ESL Podcast 949 - Dealing With a Contagious Disease

carrier - a person who has been exposed to a disease and has the bacteria or virus and is not showing any symptoms (medical problems), but can transfer the disease to others

You can be a carrier of the common cold for up to five days without showing symptoms.

communicable disease - a disease that is transmitted (shared) between people or between people and animals

Washing hands is a good way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

transmitted - shared with another person; sent from one person to another

Many illnesses are transmitted through blood and saliva (liquid from the mouth).

casual contact - light touch, especially when talking about diseases that are spread through touch, without spending a lot of time with the other person

AIDS cannot be spread through casual contact, but only through the exchange of body fluids.

to spread - to increase the extent of something; to move something around so that it covers a larger area or affects more people

If these beetles continue to spread through the forest, they could kill all the pine trees here.

to prevent - to not allow something to happen; to do something that does not permit something to happen

How can we prevent our competitors from copying our new design?

infectious disease - a disease caused when an organism (bacteria, virus, fungus, or something similar) enters the body

In general, hot tropical areas have more infectious diseases than areas with cooler climates.

to burn - to destroy something in fire; to make something catch on fire

I'm a bad cook and can't even make a grilled cheese sandwich without burning it.

in contact with - having touched something else or communicated with someone

If his skin comes in contact with this plant, he immediately develops a painful red rash.

to bathe - to wash someone in a tub filled with water (not a shower)

How often are you supposed to bathe a newborn baby?

to strip down - to remove one's clothing; to get undressed

Please strip down and put on this gown. The doctor will be in to see you in a few minutes.

underwear - undergarments; panties, boxers, briefs, bras, and other items of clothing worn underneath one's regular clothes, generally not meant to be seen by others

Some young men like to wear their pants so low on their hips that their underwear shows.

immune - with immunity to a disease; protected against getting a particular disease, usually because one has had it before or because one was vaccinated

If you got a polio shot as a baby, you should be immune to the disease.

epidemic - a situation in which a disease affects many people in a particular area over a short period of time and threatens to spread quickly into other areas

Healthcare providers are struggling to respond to the bird flu epidemic.

mayonnaise - a white condiment or sauce made from eggs, vinegar, lemon juice, and seasonings, often spread on bread to make sandwiches

I'd like a cheeseburger with ketchup and mustard, but no mayonnaise, please.