Contagious Disease Quiz: Can You Catch It?

Measles are more contagious than Ebola. You can get measles by breathing the same air as someone who is sick. Nine out of 10 people with close contact to someone who is sick will get it, according to the CDC.

The hallmarks of measles are a rash and a fever as high as 105 F. It’s dangerous because it can require hospitalization. Plus, one to two kids out of 1,000 who get it will likely die of respiratory or neurological complications. The risk is similar for encephalitis.

In January 2015, one outbreak saw 102 people affected across 14 states. California has been the hardest hit. Most of the people who became sick were unvaccinated. Past outbreaks have been linked to travelers who brought measles to the U.S. from overseas.

Mumps is one of three contagious diseases included in the MMR vaccine. It causes swollen glands, fever, and body aches. Highly contagious, it’s spread through coughing, sneezing, or talking. It tends to thrive in crowded environments like dorms, classes, and locker rooms. In response, some hockey teams had quarantines, got vaccinations, and stopped doing public appearances.

MRSA is a staph infection -- methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, to be exact -- that’s typically spread by direct contact with someone’s skin infection or personal items, such as towels or razors. In health care settings, MRSA can cause severe and life-threatening infections. In places like locker rooms, most MRSA infections cause swollen and painful red bumps on the skin as well as abscesses.

This common childhood illness causes a mild rash on the face that looks like a slapped cheek. It’s contagious before the rash appears. By the time a child has the fifth disease rash, he or she is probably no longer contagious and may return to school or child care center.

Hives (red bumps on the skin) typically are caused by an allergic reaction to a drug or food. They also can be caused by infections or stress.

A contagious virus called herpes simplex type 1 causes cold sores. More than half the U.S. population is affected by type 1 herpes virus by their 20s. Some people have no symptoms of the infection, while others develop painful cold sores on the lips, chin, cheeks, or nostrils -- or less commonly on the gums or the roof of the mouth -- that can last a week or longer. Another herpes simplex virus known as herpes simplex type 2 spreads by sexual contact and typically affects the genitals.

The exact cause of acne is unknown. But it is thought to involve excess oil, clogged pores, inflammation, and bacteria called P. acnes, which is found on everyone’s skin.

Eczema, a general term for many types of skin inflammation, is not contagious. But it is believed to be genetically connected, so it is not uncommon for members of the same family to be affected.

Poison ivy is contagious, but usually for a short time. You can’t get it from someone else or garden tools or clothes that have touched the plant once the oils from the plant have been washed away.

A person with a cold is most contagious in the first 2 to 3 days. They usually aren’t contagious at all by the 7th to 10th day. Symptoms usually begin within those first 2 or 3 days of “catching” a cold, but it can take as long as a week.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by viral or bacterial infections that commonly cause routine illnesses. Most are caused by infections that are contagious and spread through the air when someone coughs, laughs, talks, or sneezes.

Bacterial meningitis is usually more severe than viral meningitis and can have serious effects, such as brain damage, hearing loss, limb amputation, or learning disabilities. Vaccines are available for several forms of bacterial meningitis.

Four types of bodily fluids can transmit HIV: blood, semen, breast milk, and vaginal secretions. HIV does not survive well outside the body, so the virus isn’t likely to be transmitted through the environment, like a drinking glass or toilet seat. There’s no documented case of anyone being infected with HIV by contact with an environmental surface.

“Hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver. The type of hepatitis a person has is named for the virus that causes it, such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C.

Drug or alcohol use also can lead to hepatitis, and some cases are caused by the body mistakenly attacking its own tissues, but those are less common than the kind caused by viruses.

Some people with hepatitis don’t have symptoms. But symptoms can include loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and jaundice.

Malaria is spread by infected mosquitoes, not by direct contact with an infected person. Malaria is most common in developing countries with warm climates. Symptoms of malaria are similar to those of the flu, including chills, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Vaccines are the most effective method of preventing contagious disease.