What term refers to diseases that can be passed from one host to another?

The term that refers to diseases that can be passed from one host to another is "communicable diseases." Communicable diseases are caused by infectious agents, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, that can spread directly or indirectly from one individual to another. This ability to transfer from host to host is a defining feature of communicable diseases, allowing them to propagate within populations.

Infectious diseases, while closely related, encompass a broader range of conditions that may not necessarily be communicable. For instance, some infectious diseases can be non-communicable, such as those caused by opportunistic pathogens that take advantage of a weakened immune system without direct transmission between hosts.

Pathogenic diseases refer to diseases caused by a pathogen, which is a more general term that includes both communicable and non-communicable diseases. It does not specifically denote the ability to transfer between hosts.

Emerging diseases are those that are newly identified or previously unrecognized, and while some may be communicable, the term itself does not exclusively refer to transmissible diseases. This classification focuses on the novelty or change in the characteristics of the disease rather than its communicability.

Thus, "communicable diseases" is the most accurate term to describe diseases