What is the difference between “epidemic “ and “pandemic “?
In early 2020, just after the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, I watched YouTube to get some information about the situation. I found the word “epidemic “ was used very often. But gradually, the word “pandemic “ can be seen in most mass media instead. It seems “pandemic “ is more serious and fatal than “epidemic “ when talking about the severity. Am I right?
AN EPIDEMIC is a disease that affects a large number of people within a community, population, or region. A PANDEMIC is an epidemic that’s spread over multiple countries or continents. ENDEMIC is something that belongs to a particular people or country. AN OUTBREAK is a greater-than-anticipated increase in the number of endemic cases. It can also be a single case in a new area. If it’s not quickly controlled, an outbreak can become an epidemic.
A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. It differs from an outbreak or epidemic because it:
affects a wider geographical area, often worldwide. infects a greater number of people than an epidemic. is often caused by a new virus or a strain of virus that has not circulated among people for a long time. Humans usually have little to no immunity against it. The virus spreads quickly from person-to-person worldwide. causes much higher numbers of deaths than epidemics. often creates social disruption, economic loss, and general hardship.
What is the difference between “epidemic “ and “pandemic “?
In early 2020, just after the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, I watched YouTube to get some information about the situation. I found the word “epidemic “ was used very often. But gradually, the word “pandemic “ can be seen in most mass media instead. It seems “pandemic “ is more serious and fatal than “epidemic “ when talking about the severity. Am I right?
is the long version of Epidemic? And negative .
understanding:).
so bringing it up and share:).
Let’s start with basic definitions:
AN EPIDEMIC is a disease that affects a large number of people within a community, population, or region. A PANDEMIC is an epidemic that’s spread over multiple countries or continents. ENDEMIC is something that belongs to a particular people or country. AN OUTBREAK is a greater-than-anticipated increase in the number of endemic cases. It can also be a single case in a new area. If it’s not quickly controlled, an outbreak can become an epidemic.https://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/topics/live-well/2020/04/whats-the-difference-between-a-pandemic-an-epidemic-endemic-and-an-outbreak/
What are pandemics?
A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. It differs from an outbreak or epidemic because it:
affects a wider geographical area, often worldwide. infects a greater number of people than an epidemic. is often caused by a new virus or a strain of virus that has not circulated among people for a long time. Humans usually have little to no immunity against it. The virus spreads quickly from person-to-person worldwide. causes much higher numbers of deaths than epidemics. often creates social disruption, economic loss, and general hardship.https://apic.org/monthly_alerts/outbreaks-epidemics-and-pandemics-what-you-need-to-know/
就清楚地理解了这两个词的区别。
刚开始的时候COVID在中国流行， 叫epidemic。后来，随着对COVID-19的了解（其流行传染性等），以及传染国家的数量的不断激增，WHO（世界卫生组织）在大约2020年3月宣布世界进入COVID-19 的pandemic期。注意，这不是中国，也不是美国宣布的，是国际性的WHO宣布的。这其中还牵涉到中美之争（中国不愿宣布为pandemic，而美国早就要求WHO宣布，便于禁航等）。
可以想象的是，WHO将在适当时候宣布将pandemic变为epidemic。
这两字的区别是范围，不是严重程度。大家都知道的pan-前缀，意为：全，整个，总。
pan-African (=including all the peoples or countries of Africa) 全非 泛非
Pan American 全美 泛美