What makes something an epidemic

An epidemic is actively spreading; new cases of the disease substantially exceed what is expected. The geographical spread turned it into a pandemic. Endemics, on the other hand, are a constant presence in a specific location.

Malaria is endemic to parts of Africa. Ice is endemic to Antarctica. Going one step farther, an endemic can lead to an outbreak, and an outbreak can happen anywhere. Mosquitoes in these areas carry dengue fever and transmit it from person to person. It may last for a few days or weeks, or even for several years. Some outbreaks are expected each year, such as influenza. Sometimes a single case of an infectious disease may be considered an outbreak.

This may be true if the disease is rare e. An epidemic occurs when an infectious disease spreads rapidly to many people. In , the severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS epidemic took the lives of nearly people worldwide. In , during the H1N1 pandemic , the WHO defined a pandemic as the worldwide spread of a new disease.

In February , the WHO said it intended to stop using the term pandemic, and the organization has also stopped using the six-phase approach to classifying a pandemic. Still, this year the Director-General readopted the term, citing public health concerns around the spread of the new coronavirus globally. A pandemic is an epidemic that has traveled internationally. In other words, a pandemic is simply a larger and more widespread epidemic. While no illness in recent history has affected the entire planet quite like the current COVID pandemic, there have been others this century.

Here are a few:. Between and , a novel flu virus labeled H1N1 pdm09 emerged. Arguably the first pandemic of the 21st century, severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS , a type of coronavirus, spread across four continents before it was contained. Although there have been no new cases since , SARS is still registered as an infectious agent with the potential to have devastating effects on public health.

In , an influenza A virus with two genes from avian flu strains killed nearly , Americans and 1 million people around the world. The H3N2 virus continues to mutate and circulate during flu seasons today. The influenza pandemic that occurred in was the deadliest outbreak in the 20th century. Make sure you understand how your family members want to be cared for if they get sick, especially those who live with you or near you.

The Department of Homeland Security recommends that you have extra supplies of water, food, prescription medications, and over-the-counter remedies on hand. Check to be sure you also have other essential supplies like thermometers, disinfectants, and paper goods. A pandemic is an epidemic that reaches worldwide.