Pandemic?

[c3111068]

Whats the difference between a Pandemic and an Epidemic?

[KittyGlitter]

An epidemic is defined by an illness or health-related issue that is showing up in more cases than would be normally expected. However, in the case of a pandemic, even more of the population is affected than in an epidemic.

[IndieSinger]

Yes it's all about numbers of people affected. Pandemic is often used today to mean that the disease has spread across different countries/continents, whereas an epidemic is confined to a locality. Although their literal names imply no numbers or area limitations.

[scubadiver]

In the case of  an epidemic, the amount of increase in cases is exteremly arbitrary - 100 cases of measles in London might not be regarded as an epidemic, but 100 cases of Lassa fever certainly would be. Localized epidemics are usually referred to as "outbreaks"

A pandemic is an epidemic that involves several continents at the same time.

[THECORBYLOON]

A question was asked in the House of Lords regarding the definition of "epidemic" and the reply was:

"The epidemiological definition of an epidemic is an increase in the frequency of occurrence of a disease in a population above its baseline level for a specified period of time. The term epidemic can be used when describing the pattern of either infectious or chronic diseases in the population.

Administrative definitions can be set for different diseases in which an arbitrary threshold is selected above which the term "epidemic" is applied. In the case of influenza, the Department of Health introduced in 1996 an administrative definition of an "epidemic" for a rate of consultation (with a sample of general practices) of 400 per 100,000 population in a week"

Pandemic usually refers to an epidemic covering a wide geographic area and often an entire country.
 

[scubadiver]

In actual fact the increase in rate of consultations is SO arbitrary, that while it is correct that an extra 400 per 100,000 for flu, whould consititute an epidemic in England, it requires an extra 1000 cases per 100,000 in Scotland.

Also, most people would now agree that a pandemic requires spread outwith one country