Definition: epidemic v pandemic. When a disease outbreak leads to an unexpected increase in the number of disease cases in a specific geographical area, that's called an epidemic—at least by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).2 A pandemic is, broadly speaking, when a disease spreads over several countries or continents, usually affecting a large number of people. The example most commonly invoked these days is the 1918 flu pandemic, caused by an A/H1N1 influenza virus. But there are other more recent examples from influenza: The 1957 flu pandemic caused by an A/H2N2 influenza virus, the 1968 flu pandemic from an A/H3N2 influenza virus, and the 2009 "swine flu" pandemic, from an A/H1N1 influenza virus. geographic extension, most uses of the term pandemic imply disease movement or spread via transmission that can be traced from place to place, as has been done historically for centuries (eg, the Black Death). Examples of disease move ment include widespread person-to-per son spread of diseases caused by respira. epidemic, an occurrence of disease that is temporarily of high prevalence.An epidemic occurring over a wide geographical area (e.g., worldwide) is called a pandemic.The rise and decline in epidemic prevalence of an infectious disease is a probability phenomenon dependent upon transfer of an effective dose of the infectious agent from an infected individual to a susceptible one. This failing was not for any lack of warning of the dangers of pandemics. Indeed, many had sounded the alarm over the years. For nearly three decades, countless epidemiologists, public health Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most people infected with the virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. However, some will become seriously ill and require medical attention. kw2mkn3.

what is a pandemic disease