Can it go on spreading? (9)

I believe the answer is:

contagion

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'can it go on spreading?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'can it go on spreading?' is the wordplay.
'spreading?' indicates anagramming the letters.
'can'+'it'+'go'+'on'='canitgoon'
'canitgoon' is an anagram of 'CONTAGION'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for contagion that I've seen before include "Infection" , "Cognation (anag.)" , "Communication of disease by close contact" , "cause of widespread ill-feeling" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph and The Independent.

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