Epidemic, Epidemic vs. Pandemic, What's the Difference an Epidemic and Pandemic.

A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in the community at a particular time.

An epidemic is the rapid spread of disease to a large number of people in a given population within a short period of time. For example, in meningococcal infections, an attack rate in excess of 15 cases per 100,000 people for two consecutive weeks is considered an epidemic.

Epidemic vs. Pandemic

WITH ALL THE FOCUS ON the new coronavirus disease, COVID-19, you may hear some confusing and even misused terms. Epidemic and pandemic are just two of the words used frequently in news stories about the disease. They're not the same thing.