Normally I would use forms of the words epidemic, pandemic, or infection but these would imply that the disease is contagious. Are there any words that mean a disease has spread but is not contagious?
Eg: "Instances of diabetes have spread throughout the city."
Best Answer
Epidemic means only that the disease has spread more than expected; pandemic that it has spread to other countries. It doesn't have to be contagious — Bradd Szonye is correct in that — but it could be, so if you really want "words that mean a disease has spread but is not contagious" epidemic doesn't specifically say that.
You could try outbreak: