2020 will be remembered as the year of Corona Virus breakout all around the world. Often do we hear in news, read in newspapers and come across online a term called Pandemic. Which not many people knew before the outbreak of Covid-19. What is his term? Why is it being used for Covid-19, and not for other medical illnesses? We have even heard of more deadly diseases from different parts of the world, why do we not call them Pandemic? When do we call a disease a pandemic? And what do we call the other situations where a disease is not spreading throughout the world? These are common questions arising in the minds of many people who want to know more.

We have got you covered!

So basically, when we are talking about medical conditions that are common in some areas or all around the world we use terms like Pandemic, Endemic and Epidemic.

What is Pandemic?

 It’s a condition in which there is a rapid spread of a particular disease all around the world. (Example: Covid-19, Spanish Flu).

What is Endemic?

When a disease or an illness resides in a particular area of land, or tribe of people. (Polio, Dengue).

What is Epidemic?

A disease or an infection that affects or infects a large group of people, spreading over large part of area. But never throughout the world. (Ebola, Zika Virus).

Pandemic vs Endemic vs Epidemic

Spread rate:

  • Pandemic: A pandemic spreads rapidly all over the world.
  • Endemic: It mostly stays confined to the particular state or group of people.
  • Epidemic: Mostly spreading throughout a country or for the least many parts of a country. Also, has a tendency to transmit to other parts of the world. If not controlled on time may cause a pandemic.

Control:

An endemic is the easier one out of the three to be controlled. As it is defined to a certain tribe of humans or a particular land. Also, it is also addressed often so other countries offer help as well.

An epidemic is second to endemic as it has still not covered whole world. The other countries and organizations like W.H.O help in fighting against it.

So obviously, now we are left with pandemic. The most dangerous of all which puts the whole world at risk. Each country is trying to improve its condition and trying to save its people. Which leads to less help offered from the developed countries to the developing and under developed ones.

Time Period:

  • Endemic: Likely to stay for years or forever in the infected area. But once it’s properly resolved it is less likely to come back.
  • Epidemic: Depends on how quickly it is resolved.
  • Pandemic: From depending on the rate at which it’s resolved to depending on the recurrence. As, it spreads throughout the world there are higher chances of recurrence, due to travel.

Passive Immunity:

  • Endemic: People are likely to build up passive immunity.
  • Epidemic: Less likely to develop passive immunity.
  • Pandemic: Less likely to develop passive immunity.

Death Rate:

The death rate of epidemic is likely to be low as its measures of control and treatment are better developed.

The epidemic has greater tendency than an endemic to cause deaths.

The pandemic has the greatest ability to cause a very high death rate.

Infectivity:

Endemic: Lower capacity to infect. Also, due to passive immunity built up in people.

Epidemic: Intermediate to high capacity to infect.

Pandemic: Possess greatest ability to infect the people all around the world.

Prevention:

  • Endemic: It is the easiest to prevent as it has been there among a certain group of people or community for years.
  • Epidemic: It can be prevented with strict rule following.
  • Pandemic: Here as well, a pandemic is the most difficult one to prevent, as it covers almost whole world.

Related terms:

Infectivity: the ability of an organism to cause infection.

Passive Immunity: An immunity required from an outside source.

Recurrence: The relapse of a disease after it was treated in the first place.

Conclusion:

Now that we have learnt some major differences in Endemic, Epidemic and Pandemic, we can safely conclude Pandemic being the most dangerous amongst the three. With it being extremely difficult to control, everyone must understand his/her responsibility in preventing it as much as possible. During a pandemic it’s not only about us, but also about the people we can infect. The world right now is under great pressure due to Covid-19 breakout. In times like these the least we can do for ourselves, our loved ones, our country and whole world is taking preventing steps like, washing hands, maintaining social distance, maintaining hygiene, quarantining etc. By taking these steps we not only save ourselves but also the people in our surrounding, like they say a person who saves one human saves whole humanity. What do you say?