{"id":836,"date":"2017-12-01T15:57:59","date_gmt":"2017-12-01T15:57:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.besthealthsciencedegree.com\/?page_id=836"},"modified":"2017-12-01T15:57:59","modified_gmt":"2017-12-01T15:57:59","slug":"what-is-a-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.besthealthsciencedegree.com\/faq\/what-is-a-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Pandemic?"},"content":{"rendered":"

We often hear the word pandemic in the news, but many are uncertain of its precise meaning. If you\u2019re interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, it’s vital that you know how to identify this event. However, such knowledge is also crucial for individuals working in anthropology, sociology, communications, and a wide array of other disciplines. In the article below, we\u2019ll explore the term, the conditions under which it applies, and why it differs from other disease-related terminology.<\/p>\n

New to the Scene<\/h3>\n

According to the World Health Organization<\/a> (WHO), this term applies to the spread of a new disease across a vast region, country, continent or the world. However, with illnesses that reappear and consistently take a high toll on human populations, it may also come into play. What is important to note is that while the term is used interchangeably with the concept of an epidemic, specific differentiation applies. Outbreaks may be serial in nature and may impact particular demographics, such as the very old and the very young.<\/p>\n

The prefix \u2018pan\u2019 denotes broad impacts, both geographically and demographically. An excellent example of this is the mutation of the flu virus. Each season brings a new threat to public health and safety, irrespective of age or status. Epidemiologists consider seasonal flu outbreaks distinct from those of broadcast impact, such as the H1N1 Swine Flu. This variation took a heavy toll on individuals across many nations and in all age groups, even those who are traditionally less susceptible to infection or death. In the case of most seasonal outbreaks, fatality is a less frequent outcome, and most people tend to recover without medical intervention.<\/p>\n

Historical and Modern Exemplars<\/h3>\n

In both the Classical World and the emergent period known as the Medieval Ages following the fall of Rome, many instances of widespread illness are documented. Unfortunately for most of us, the familiar moniker of Plague is applied to a wide variety of distinctly different diseases. The Bubonic Plague visited Europe not once but in a succession of waves, carried by traders\u2019 ships from the Eastern emporiums of spices and silks. It is estimated that in one particularly deadly outbreak from 1346 \u2013 1353 A.D., it reduced the population of modern day Europe by sixty percent. Successive epidemic events are well noted in more confined localities\u2014such as Italy or England in the 16th and 17th centuries.<\/p>\n