What is a Pandemic?
Pandemic Definition
A pandemic is a disease that affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population and spreads across a large geographical area. It generally pertains to a novel contagious ailment against which individuals lack immunity. A pandemic has the potential to induce extensive morbidity and mortality, as well as disrupt social, economic, and political systems. Prominent attributes of a pandemic comprise:
- A pandemic exhibits a widespread incidence spanning numerous countries or continents, in contrast to an outbreak or epidemic, which may be confined to a single region or community.
- Profound Transmission Rate: The disease readily disseminates among individuals, frequently due to the absence of immunity within the worldwide populace.
- An escalation in cases and fatalities occurs, frequently exhibiting an exponential growth trajectory until the population attains immunity or effective interventions.
One prominent contemporary instance of a pandemic is the COVID-19 crisis, which commenced in late 2019 and was attributed to the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. This outbreak precipitated worldwide health emergencies and disturbances. Additional historical instances encompass the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 and the H1N1 influenza that struck in 2009. Public health organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) may declare a pandemic and monitor disease outbreaks when an infectious disease satisfies the necessary criteria.
