A communicable disease is a disease that can be spread from person to person. Communicable diseases impacting Marathon County include sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis C, tuberculosis, pertussis, and tickborne, foodborne, and waterborne diseases.

The number of sexually transmitted gonorrhea cases have increased significantly within the past two years in Marathon County as well as the state and nation. It is important for medical providers to follow the recommended treatment protocol because gonorrhea can become resistant to treatment. Chlamydia continues to be the most prevalent communicable disease in Marathon County, as well as Wisconsin and the United States.  It often has no symptoms so it is important for people to be tested as it could cause damage to your reproductive system and be spread without knowing.

Hepatitis C is most often spread through injection drug use in Marathon County. Most people who have this virus develop a chronic, lifelong infection that can cause serious health problems of the liver.