Despite　extensive　work　on　the　interplay　between　traffic　dynamics　and　epidemic　spreading,　the　control　of　epidemic　spreading　by　routing　strategies　has　not　received　adequate　attention.　In　this　paper,　we　study　the　impact　of　an　efficient　routing　protocol　on　epidemic　spreading.　In　the　case　of　infinite　node-delivery　capacity,　where　the　traffic　is　free　of　congestion,　we　find　that　that　there　exist　optimal　values　of　routing　parameter,　leading　to　the　maximal　epidemic　threshold.　This　means　that　epidemic　spreading　can　be　effectively　controlled　by　fine　tuning　the　routing　scheme.　Moreover,　we　find　that　an　increase　in　the　average　network　connectivity　and　the　emergence　of　traffic　congestion　can　suppress　the　epidemic　outbreak.　©　2014　IOP　Publishing　Ltd　and　SISSA　Medialab　srl.