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A medical dictionary definition of pandemic is "an epidemic occurring on a scale that crosses international boundaries, usually affecting people on a worldwide scale". A disease or condition is not a pandemic merely because it is widespread or kills many people; it must also be infectious.
Jun 25, 2024 · A pandemic is a global outbreak of infectious disease that affects a significant proportion of the population. Learn about the causes, types, and impacts of pandemics, from the Black Death to COVID-19, and how they are monitored and controlled.
- Kara Rogers
- A pandemic is an outbreak of infectious disease that occurs over a wide geographical area and that is of high prevalence. A pandemic generally affe...
- Throughout history, there have been many deadly pandemics, but the Black Death and the influenza pandemic of 1918–19 rank among the most lethal. Th...
- Pandemics can be caused by several factors. For example, in some cases, a new strain or subtype of virus that first emerged in animals jumps to hum...
- Pandemics typically slow and come to an end on their own, though the process may be accelerated through effective preventive strategies, such as im...
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic ), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ( SARS-CoV-2 ), began with an outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. It spread to other areas of Asia, and then worldwide in early 2020.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most people infected with the virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. However, some will become seriously ill and require medical attention.
The World Health Organization provides global technical guidance, advice, and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Find out the latest numbers, vaccines, treatments, tests, research, and media resources on the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Explore the global and country-level data on cases, deaths, tests, vaccinations, and policy responses to the coronavirus pandemic. See interactive visualizations, explanations, and sources for each metric.
Being prepared for a pandemic is important as it would help reduce the spread of infectious diseases and reduce illness and deaths, minimize the impact on our healthcare systems, and mitigate the social and economic disruptions caused by disease outbreaks.
