How Epidemics and Pandemics Impact Populations
Epidemic:
The process of rapidly spreading infectious diseases within a short period of time into a large number of people in a given population and spread over to several countries or continents, is known as Epidemic. From a Greek word an epidemic is derived, which refers to upon or above people. bubonic plague, cholera, influenza, Smallpox are some of the common examples of Epidemics.
Pandemic:
The worldwide spreading of a new disease is known as pandemic. A larger version of an epidemic, a pandemic. In other words, it is known as a pandemic, when an epidemic goes out of control. It is likely to be a pandemic, if an epidemic covers many countries spreading through continents. There are different types of pandemics. One of the best examples for the most destructive global pandemics in history is HIV or AIDS.
The pathogenic or harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses and other parasites that can spread, directly or indirectly, from one person to another through the air, water, and other modes of transmissions, these are the main cause of epidemic and pandemic.
Humans do begin to develop some immunity after a pandemic emerges, and spreads, but this takes time. The virus subtype can then circulate among humans for several years, leading to occasional epidemics.
Epidemic Vs Pandemic
Fun Facts
An epidemic is something that belongs to a particular person or country. The spread of pandemic over multiple countries or continents is an epidemic.
When a new virus strain or subtype becomes easily transmittable between humans, or by bacteria that become resistant to treatment with antibiotics, then a pandemic is caused.
Epidemic is often used broadly to describe any problem that has grown out of control. During an epidemic, the disease is actively spreading.
An epidemic is an outbreak of a disease that spreads quickly and affects many people at the same time. An outbreak occurs when there is a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease, like COVID -19.
When an epidemic spreads over significant geographical areas and affects a large percent of the population then it becomes a pandemic. In short, an epidemic on a national or global level, is a pandemic.
An Example of epidemic diseases is the West African Ebola, and an example of pandemic diseases are HIV AIDS, Asian Influenza and Cholera.
The 1918 Spanish flu, the measles outbreak from 1981 to 1991, and a 2014 cases of whooping cough are some examples of an epidemic that took place in the past.
Various agencies around the world, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), monitor the behaviour and movement of viruses, and keep under control the outbreaks of disease.
FAQs on Difference Between Epidemic and Pandemic
1. What is the main difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?
The key difference lies in the geographical scale of the disease outbreak. An epidemic is a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease, confined to a specific community or region. A pandemic is when that epidemic spreads across multiple countries or continents, affecting a much larger number of people globally.
2. What is a good example of an epidemic?
A classic example of an epidemic would be a large-scale cholera outbreak contained within a single country or a few neighbouring areas. Another example is the Ebola virus outbreak that was largely concentrated in West Africa in 2014-2016. The key is that the disease's rapid spread is significant but not yet global.
3. Can an epidemic turn into a pandemic?
Yes, absolutely. An epidemic becomes a pandemic when it is no longer contained within a specific region and starts to spread across international borders, leading to sustained community-level outbreaks in different parts of the world. The transition from epidemic to pandemic is officially declared by global health organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO).
4. What causes a disease to spread so widely and become a pandemic?
A pandemic is often caused by a new pathogen, like a new virus strain, to which most humans have little or no immunity. Several factors contribute to its spread:
- It is easily transmittable from person to person.
- The pathogen survives long enough to travel across long distances.
- There is a lack of an effective vaccine or treatment to stop its initial spread.
5. How are the terms epidemic, pandemic, and endemic different from each other?
These three terms describe a disease's prevalence in a population:
- Epidemic: A sudden and widespread outbreak of a disease in a specific population or area, far exceeding normal expectations.
- Pandemic: An epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, affecting a large part of the world's population.
- Endemic: A disease that is constantly present in a certain population or region at a predictable level, like malaria in certain tropical areas.
6. Was the COVID-19 outbreak first an epidemic before it became a pandemic?
Yes. Initially, the COVID-19 outbreak was considered an epidemic when it was largely concentrated in one region (Wuhan, China). As the virus spread rapidly across international borders and caused significant outbreaks in multiple continents, the WHO officially declared it a pandemic in March 2020, reflecting its global impact.
7. Why is it important for health organisations to distinguish between these terms?
Distinguishing between an epidemic and a pandemic is crucial for public health response. An epidemic requires a focused, regional response to contain the outbreak. Declaring a pandemic signals a global health crisis, prompting international cooperation, coordinated travel restrictions, and large-scale mobilization of resources for vaccine development and healthcare support worldwide.
