Crossword Genius

European country without any cause of disease (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

germ

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'cause of disease' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for germ that I've seen before include "Cause of illness" , "Disease-causing microorganism" , "Bug" , "source of infection?" , "Origin" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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