English- Contract a disease or contact a disease

*Contract a disease or contact a disease* 

The phrases contract a disease and contact a disease are often confused, but only one of these terms is correct. We will examine the meaning and origin of the phrases contract a disease and contact a disease as well as some example of the correct use in sentences.

To contract a disease means to catch or acquire an illness through the exposure to a contagious pathogen. However, one may also contract a disease that is non-communicable such as cancer. Contract a disease is a verb phrase, related terms are contracts a disease, contracted a disease and contracting a disease. The word contract is derived from the Latin word contractus which means to draw together.

To contact a disease is an eggcorn, which is a misheard word or phrase that retains its original meaning. To contact a disease is not an accepted term. This eggcorn is probably a confabulation of the terms to come into contact with a disease and to contract a disease.

*What is the difference between isolation and quarantine?* 

Isolation and quarantine are public health practices used to stop or limit the spread of disease.

 *Isolation* is used to separate *ill* persons who have a communicable disease from those who are healthy. Isolation restricts the movement of ill persons to help stop the spread of certain diseases. For example, hospitals use isolation for patients with infectious tuberculosis.

 *Quarantine* is used to separate and restrict the movement of *well* persons who may have been exposed to a communicable disease to see if they become ill. These people may have been exposed to a disease and do not know it, or they may have the disease but do not show symptoms. Quarantine can also help limit the spread of communicable disease.

Isolation and quarantine are used to protect the public by preventing exposure to infected persons or to persons who may be infected.

Isolation and quarantine help protect the public by preventing exposure to people who have or may have a contagious disease.

Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.

Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.