To prevent the spread of communicable diseases, government agencies can institute isolation orders, requiring someone with a virus or disease to stay in a specific location until they are no longer contagious.CDC: Isolation and Quarantine

In response to the April 2009 swine flu outbreak, several infected individuals have been ordered into isolation in order to not infect others. The swine flu, which has claimed 152 lives in Mexico as of April 28, 2009, was considered a level four pandemic by the World Health Organization, meaning human-to-human transmission was occurring.The News & Observer: N.C. Officials Order Sick to Stay Home

• CholeraCDC: Isolation and Quarantine
• DiphtheriaCDC: Isolation and Quarantine
• Infectious tuberculosisCDC: Isolation and Quarantine
• PlagueCDC: Isolation and Quarantine
• SmallpoxCDC: Isolation and Quarantine
• Yellow fever
• Viral hemorrhagic feversCDC: Isolation and Quarantine
• SARSCDC: Isolation and Quarantine
• Flu that can cause a pandemicCDC: Isolation and Quarantine

In isolation, those infected with a communicable disease are secluded from the general public in order to prevent the virus or disease from spreading to the healthy general public.CDC: Isolation and Quarantine

Quarantine differs from isolation in that people who appear to be healthy, but have been exposed to a communicable disease, are secluded to see if they become ill. In cases of several communicable diseases, there may be in incubation period in which someone could carry and transmit to others, without showing symptoms of illness.CDC: Isolation and Quarantine