PANDEMIC vs EPIDEMIC
What is the difference between
a Pandemic and an Epidemic?
The U.N. chief on Thursday warned the largest gathering of world leaders since the corona virus pandemic began that it will cause “unimaginable devastation and suffering around the world,” with historic levels of hunger and famine and up to 1.6 billion people unable to earn a living unless action is taken now.There are many Pandemics and Epidemic have ravaged humanity through out its existence,often changing course of history.But so far the pandemic that affected human beings most was Spanish flu which killed over 500 million people but can COVID19 be worst then it already is,Only time will tell.
Pandemic vs Epidemic
The term "pandemic"and "epidemic" is often considered similar sometimes even by medical experts because each term is fluid and changes as diseases became more or less prevalent.These words might not require precise definitions but it is important to understand the difference to help better understand public health news and responses.
Lets start with the comparison of both:
.An PANDEMIC is a infectious disease that spreads across a large region multiple contents or worldwide affecting people all over the globe.It can impact globally.It can spread every corner of the world and reach every human on the surface of earth.Once it started to spread it becomes impossible to stop it but however if cautions taken at right time will help to prevent the widespread of the pandemic.Some of the Pandemics which were deadly to humans were Spanish flu,Black death and COVID19 .On the other hand..
.An EPIDEMIC is a disease which spread or affects large number of people in a community,population or a region in a small period of time.Consider it in this way when COVID-19 was limited to Wuhan(CHINA) it was an epidemic but once it started spreading worldwide it is now considered as Pandemic.Few other EPIDEMIC are Malaria which is found in few parts of Africa, Dengue virus which is found in few parts of Asia.
Conclusion:
Both are deadly and can harm humans financially also.In conclusion simple distinction is a Pandemic has a passport.A Pandemic is an Epidemic which can travel every corner of the world.
Q)Do you consider COVID19 as deadly as the Spanish flu was which killed over 500 million people?Can we control this Pandemic?