Commonly Used Epidemiological Terms and What They Mean *UPDATED*
An epidemic is a rapidly increasing and actively spreading disease cases in a specific geographical area, such as a community, population, or region. It does not necessarily have to be infectious or contagious. An epidemic can progress into a pandemic if it gets out of control and spreads globally.
A pandemic is an epidemic that is widespread across multiple countries or continents, and generally in an uncontrolled manner. It is typically declared by the World Health Organization.
Endemic is when a disease is consistently present but in a manner where the spread, rates are predictable and not uncontrolled. An endemic disease can lead to an outbreak.
An outbreak is a greater than expected increase in the number of endemic cases. An outbreak can turn into an epidemic if not controlled quickly.
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