Contagious Diseases
Contagious diseases such as colds, the flu, whooping cough, bacterial meningitis, mumps, measles, rubella, smallpox or chicken pox, can be spread by coughs, sneezes, hand shakes or touching surfaces that are contaminated with tiny droplets from a person's nose or mouth.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services offers excellent tips on how to prevent contagious diseases from spreading.
From the N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services:
N.C. Public Health
Public Health and Preparedness Response
North Carolina's Pandemic Flu Plan
Epidemiology in North Carolina
From the United States Dept. of Health and Human Services:
Pandemicflu.gov