Diseases Diseases

Unit 3Unit 3

Disease OutbreakDisease Outbreak

A disease outbreak happens when a disease A disease outbreak happens when a disease occurs in greater numbers than expected in a occurs in greater numbers than expected in a community, region or during a season. community, region or during a season.

Can last from days to years.Can last from days to years.

Sometimes a single disease can be considered Sometimes a single disease can be considered an outbreak (if it is a new disease in a new an outbreak (if it is a new disease in a new place).place).

Epidemic vs. PandemicEpidemic vs. Pandemic

Both terms refer to the spread of Both terms refer to the spread of infectious disease in a population. infectious disease in a population.

They refer to the rate of infection and/or They refer to the rate of infection and/or the area that is affected. the area that is affected.

There are two main differences in the There are two main differences in the two.two.

EpidemicEpidemic

An illness or health related issue that is showing up in An illness or health related issue that is showing up in more cases than would normally be expected. more cases than would normally be expected.

It occurs when an infectious disease spreads rapidly to It occurs when an infectious disease spreads rapidly to many people. many people.

2003-SARS took lives of 800 people worldwide.2003-SARS took lives of 800 people worldwide.

Malaria can reach epidemic levels in Africa, but is not a Malaria can reach epidemic levels in Africa, but is not a threat worldwide, so would not become a pandemic. threat worldwide, so would not become a pandemic.

PandemicPandemic

Pandemic is used to indicate a far higher Pandemic is used to indicate a far higher number of people affected than an number of people affected than an epidemic. epidemic.

Pandemic refers to a larger region being Pandemic refers to a larger region being affected (most serious case would be a affected (most serious case would be a global pandemic). global pandemic).

PandemicPandemic

A flu strain can start out as an epidemic, but A flu strain can start out as an epidemic, but can become a pandemic (this is not unusual for can become a pandemic (this is not unusual for a new virus because people’s immune systems a new virus because people’s immune systems have not been exposed to it and are not ready have not been exposed to it and are not ready to fight it off).to fight it off).

Swine flu (started in Mexico City and is now in Swine flu (started in Mexico City and is now in New Zealand, Israel, Scotland and many other New Zealand, Israel, Scotland and many other countries). countries).

PandemicPandemic

The 1918 Spanish Flu and the Black The 1918 Spanish Flu and the Black Plague are extreme examples of Plague are extreme examples of pandemics. pandemics.

Keep in mind, that a pandemic does NOT Keep in mind, that a pandemic does NOT necessarily mean millions of deaths, it necessarily mean millions of deaths, it means that it is a geographically means that it is a geographically widespread epidemic. widespread epidemic.