contact tracing

American  

[kon-takt trey-sing] / ˈkɒn tækt ˌtreɪ sɪŋ /

noun

1. a public health measure undertaken to slow and eventually halt the spread of a disease that is transmitted person-to-person, in which people who have come in close proximity to or direct contact with an infected person are identified and monitored for signs of infection. These individuals, along with any of their contacts who manifest symptoms, are generally required to isolate themselves long enough to be treated, if necessary, before they can infect others.

   Rigorous contact tracing accompanied by widespread testing has proven effective in reducing deaths during an epidemic.

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Other Word Forms

• contact trace
  verb (used with or without object)
• contact tracer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of contact tracing

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Intense contact tracing appeared to have prevented further spread, he added.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

Some of those cruises are also famous in the scientific literature—one of the foundations of modern contact tracing comes from an outbreak of gastroenteritis on a cruise ship.

From Slate • May 16, 2026

After a suspected outbreak of hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship left three people dead and several others ill, a global contact tracing effort is under way.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

“Right now, our best strategy to avoid spread is contact tracing, so reaching out to everybody that came in contact with this person,” Merchant said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2026

Rwanda said it was intensifying contact tracing, surveillance and testing to help contain the spread.

From BBC • Sep. 30, 2024