Contagion (noun)

1. The spread of a disease from one person to another by close contact.
2. The spread of an idea, feeling, or behavior from one person to another.
3. The spread of a problem or crisis from one country or market to another.

Origin:

Derived from the latin word 'contagio' which means contact, touch.

Examples:

1. The outbreak of the disease led to widespread panic and concerns about contagion.
2. The contagion of fear and panic swept through the city.
3. The economic contagion from the crisis in Greece threatened the stability of the entire eurozone.
4. The government took steps to prevent the contagion of the disease from spreading.
5. The contagion of negativity and cynicism among the employees was impacting their work and productivity.