Exams Prep Master
An epidemic is a term that is broadly used for describing any problem which has grown out of control. Whereas, the term pandemic refers to the geographic spread and is used to describe a disease that affects the entire world. It is quite normal to get confused with these two terms. One needs to know the fundamentals of each concept to differentiate them. Let’s discuss the topic along with some important questions.
What is an Epidemic?
Epidemic refers to the fast spread of infectious diseases among a large number of people in a given population over a long period of time and throughout numerous countries or continents. The epidemic is derived from a Greek term that means "upon or above people." Epidemics include bubonic plague, cholera, influenza, and smallpox, to name a few.
- An epidemic is characterized by the rapid spread of an infectious disease over a short period of time. It also affects a huge number of persons in a given population. It also has the potential to spread to other countries or continents.
- Furthermore, the name comes from a Greek word that means "on top of" or "above." Furthermore, an epidemic occurs when a disease affects a large number of people in a short period of time, usually two weeks.
What is Pandemic?
Pandemic refers to the widespread of a new illness. A pandemic is a greater version of an epidemic. In other terms, a pandemic occurs when an outbreak spirals out of control. If an epidemic spreads over multiple countries and continents, it is likely to be a pandemic. Pandemics come in a variety of forms. HIV/AIDS is a prime example of one of history's most devastating global pandemics.
The main cause of epidemics and pandemics is pathogenic or dangerous 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 routes of transmission. After a pandemic breaks out and spreads, humans begin to build some immunity, but it takes time. The viral subtype can then circulate among humans for years, causing epidemics on occasion. Some more facts about pandemics are as follows:
- As you may know, a pandemic affects a larger geographic area, and in certain cases, the entire planet. It also infects a greater number of people. A pandemic is also frequently caused by a novel virus or a new strain of a virus that has not been in circulation for a long period.
- Furthermore, because the virus has little to no immunity, it will spread swiftly. As a result, there are more deaths, as well as social upheaval and economic loss.
- Please keep in mind that the phrases pandemic and epidemic do not refer to the severity of the diseases, but rather the rate at which the sickness is spreading.
Difference Between Epidemic and Pandemic
Difference Between Epidemic and Pandemic
| Epidemic | Pandemic |
|---|---|
| An epidemic is a disease outbreak that affects a large number of people in a population and spreads quickly. | A pandemic is a major epidemic that affects multiple countries or extends from one continent to another. |
| An epidemic is defined as a disease outbreak that affects a large number of individuals in a short period of time, usually less than two weeks. | In pandemic outbreaks, the number of individuals afflicted or who died is less important than the rate of transmission and how far it has traveled. |
| The epidemic is a term that refers to a disease that affects a specific person or country. | A pandemic is an epidemic that spreads across numerous countries or continents. |
| The West African Ebola virus is an example of an epidemic sickness. | HIV AIDS, Asian Influenza, and Cholera are examples of pandemic diseases. |
Causes of Epidemic and Pandemic
Both epidemic and pandemic are caused as a result of pathogens like viruses, bacteria, and other harmful parasites which spread rapidly from one infected person to another. The most common modes of transmission typically are air, water, and physical contact.
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Things to Remember
- An epidemic is a disease that affects a specific individual or country. A pandemic is defined as a disease that spreads across numerous countries or continents.
- A pandemic occurs when a novel virus strain or subtype becomes easily transmissible between humans, or when bacteria become resistant to antibiotic treatment.
- The term "epidemic" is often used to describe any condition that has become out of hand. The disease is actively spreading during an epidemic.
- An epidemic is a disease outbreak that spreads rapidly and affects a large number of individuals at the same time. An epidemic happens when the number of instances of an illness, such as COVID -19, suddenly increases.
- A pandemic occurs when an epidemic spreads across wide geographic areas and affects a big percentage of the population. In a nutshell, a pandemic is an epidemic that occurs on a national or worldwide scale.
- West African Ebola is an example of an epidemic disease, while HIV AIDS, Asian Influenza, and Cholera are examples of pandemic diseases.
- The Spanish flu epidemic of 1918, the measles outbreak from 1981 to 1991, and the 2014 occurrences of whooping cough are just a few examples of earlier epidemics.
- Various organizations around the world, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), maintain track of virus behavior and movement to keep disease epidemics under control.
Sample Questions
Ques: Disease that affects many people in different countries is known as: (1 mark)
a) Sporadic
b) Pandemic
c) Epidemic
d) Endemic
Ans: The correct answer is b. Pandemic.
Ques: If an individual can be infected by direct contact with infected tissue of another individual, it is termed as: (1 mark)
a) Indirect contact transmission
b) Attachment
c) Direct contact transmission
d) None of these
Ans: The correct answer is c. Direct contact transmission.
Ques: What is the concept of an epidemic? (2 marks)
Ans: Epidemic refers to the fast spread of infectious diseases among a large number of people in a given population over a long period of time and throughout numerous countries or continents. The epidemic is derived from a Greek term that means "upon or above people." Epidemics include bubonic plague, cholera, influenza, and smallpox, to name a few.
Ques: What is the concept of Pandemic? (4 marks)
Ans: A pandemic is an epidemic that affects a huge number of people and occurs worldwide or over a big area, spanning international borders.
Seasonal epidemics traverse international borders and affect a significant number of individuals, hence pandemics can be defined as seasonal epidemics in the temperate southern and northern hemispheres. Seasonal epidemics, on the other hand, are not termed pandemics.
A pandemic sickness is also a word that refers to a pandemic. A pandemic is defined as "a worldwide spread of a new illness" in more detailed terms. The WHO officially labeled the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on March 11 due to the disease's global spread and severity.
Ques: What Are the Causes of Pandemics? (4 marks)
Ans: A pandemic occurs when a novel virus strain or subtype becomes easily transmissible between humans, or when bacteria become resistant to antibiotic treatment.
Pandemics are sometimes triggered by a disease's increased ability to spread quickly, as was the case with the Black Death in the 14th century.
A novel virus may have little or no immunity in humans. It is not necessary for a new virus to be able to travel from person to person; nevertheless, if it alters or mutates, it can quickly propagate. A pandemic could occur in this circumstance. Seasonal outbreaks (or epidemics) of the flu are typically triggered by variants of a virus that are already circulating in a population.
Ques: When does an epidemic become pandemic? (2 marks)
Ans: Generally, an epidemic transforms into a pandemic at that time when it becomes uncontrollable and spreads to a vast geographical area taking innumerable lives.
Ques: Differentiate between epidemic and pandemic. (5 marks)
Ans: The difference between epidemic and pandemic are as follows:
| Epidemic | Pandemic |
|---|---|
| An epidemic is a disease outbreak that affects a large number of people in a population and spreads quickly. | A pandemic is a major epidemic that affects multiple countries or extends from one continent to another. |
| An epidemic is defined as a disease outbreak that affects a large number of individuals in a short period of time, usually less than two weeks. | In pandemic outbreaks, the number of individuals afflicted or who died is less important than the rate of transmission and how far it has traveled. |
| The epidemic is a term that refers to a disease that affects a specific person or country. | A pandemic is an epidemic that spreads across numerous countries or continents. |
| The West African Ebola virus is an example of an epidemic sickness. | HIV AIDS, Asian Influenza, and Cholera are examples of pandemic diseases. |
Ques: Write the difference between the concepts of epidemic disease and endemic disease? (2 marks)
Ans: Endemic diseases refer to those that often affect people of a given place, many or few individuals. Whereas, epidemic diseases are those of rapid spread and elevated number of new cases. An endemic disease can become an epidemic disease.
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