These words come from a bulletin about an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

A sudden spread of a disease in a place or among a group of people.

You heard “outbreak” in the news.

Here, it refers to a sudden spread of a disease.

For example: The school closed after an outbreak of flu.

A sudden spread of flu led the school to close.

You heard “contacts” in the news.

Here, it means people who may have been near someone with a disease and exposed to it.

For example: The nurse called the sick child’s close contacts.

The nurse called people who had been near the sick child.

You heard “approved” in the news.

Here, it means officially accepted for use.

For example: The manager approved my request for a day off.

The manager officially agreed to the request.