1. The difference between epidemic & pandemic
Millions infected globally, unusually high rate of infection (Does not mean millions dead.)
Can begin as an epidemic and then spread worldwide. For example: a flu strain can begin locally (epidemic) but eventually spread globally (pandemic).
Frequently a new virus, people have not been exposed to the virus before, their immune systems are not ready to fight it off, and more people become ill.
Examples:
Bubonic Plague
Influenza
Influenza pandemics have occurred more than
once.
Spanish influenza killed million people in 1918.
Asian influenza killed 2 million people in 1957.
Hong Kong influenza killed 1 million people in 1968.
Disease/illness shows up in more cases than would normally be expected.
It spreads rapidly to many people.
Confined to a particular city or region
Examples:
Malaria in Africa
Yellow fever in southern US states in the 1800’s
Cholera in Haiti