Two of the eponymous diseases in this episode are transmitted through incredibly casual exposure. The third requires more prolonged, direct contact with someone who is acutely ill, but can still spread really rapidly in certain conditions.
Research:

SYMHC Classics: Sarah Bradlee Fulton
32:28

Behind the Scenes Minis: Stairs and Trains
29:25

Elizabeth Blackwell's Curious Herbal
34:51