nakkuslikke

Nakkuslikke is the Estonian plural partitive form of nakkuslik, an adjective meaning infectious or capable of transmitting infection. It is used to describe diseases, pathogens, or conditions that can spread from one person to another. The word originates from nakkus (infection) plus the adjectival suffix -lik and the partitive plural ending -e. In everyday and professional Estonian, nakkuslikke is used to modify nouns in the partitive plural, for example nakkuslikke haigusi (infectious diseases) or nakkuslikke aineid (infectious agents).

In medical and public health contexts, nakkuslikke describes diseases and pathogens caused by infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Transmission can occur through direct contact, respiratory droplets, contaminated surfaces, bodily fluids, food or water, or vectors. The concept is closely related to contagiousness and transmissibility, though the exact usage may vary with context. More precise terminology may be used in technical literature, for instance nakkuslik haigus (infectious disease) or nakkushaigus in certain phrases.

Prevention and control of nakkuslikke conditions focus on reducing transmission. Measures include vaccination, good hygiene and handwashing, isolation of infected individuals, quarantine when necessary, safe handling of food and waste, and rapid diagnosis and treatment. Surveillance and public health interventions help detect outbreaks and limit their spread, guiding policy decisions and resource allocation.

Nakkuslikke appears primarily in Estonian-language medical and epidemiological writing and is a grammatical form used to refer to multiple infectious items in the plural, partitive sense, rather than a separate concept or category.