The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word CONTAGION
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
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More clues leading to the result CONTAGION
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Can it go on spreading" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case can it go on spreading = contagion.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does CONTAGION mean?
CONTAGION noun- A disease spread by contact
- The spread or transmission of such a disease
- (by extension) the spread of anything harmful, as if it were such a disease
- A situation in which small shocks, which initially affect only a few financial institutions or a particular region of an economy, spread to the rest of financial sectors and other countries whose economies were previously healthy
- A resulting recession or crisis developed in such manner