Final answer:
A disease that can be transmitted from person to person is called a communicable disease, which is also referred to as infectious or contagious. Diseases like colds and measles are examples of contagious diseases, and the ease of spreading from one person to another depends on the pathogen and mode of transmission.
Step-by-step explanation:
A disease that can be passed from person to person is known as a communicable disease. These diseases are also referred to as infectious or contagious diseases. An infectious disease is a disease that spreads from person to person, and it may be caused by a variety of pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi. Contagious diseases are a subtype of infectious diseases that are very easily spread from one individual to another. Pathogens can be transferred through multiple mechanisms, either directly through physical contact or indirectly through the air, contaminated surfaces, or vectors such as insects.
For instance, measles is considered a highly contagious disease because it spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Gonorrhea, on the other hand, is communicable but requires close intimate contact for transmission. The way a disease spreads and how easily it can be transmitted from one person to another often determines how contagious that disease is.