Which term describes a disease not communicable by direct or indirect contact?

• A. Noncontagious disease
• B. Contagious disease
• C. Infectious disease
• D. Airborne disease

Answer: (A)

Transmission is what determines if a disease is contagious. A disease that cannot be passed from one person to another through direct contact or through objects people share is described as noncontagious. Contagious diseases, by contrast, can spread between people via contact, droplets, or the air. The term infectious refers to being caused by pathogens, and while many infectious diseases are contagious, some are not spread between people, so that word is broader and not specific to contact transmission. Airborne diseases are spread through the air and are contagious by that route, so they aren’t the right fit for a disease that isn’t transmitted by contact. So the best description for a disease not communicable by direct or indirect contact is noncontagious.