The terms “pandemic,” “epidemic” and “endemic” have been used regularly over the past two years in reference to COVID-19. Are people using the terms correctly? Here’s some help.
During an epidemic, there is an outbreak of more than an expected number of cases of a disease. An epidemic is found in a small population. And when an epidemic spreads over a large geographic area, it becomes a pandemic.
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Because of its size and scope, a pandemic can cause widespread illness, hardship and death. The magnitude of spread of COVID-19 clearly fit the definition of a pandemic.
So then, what makes a pandemic endemic? There is not a clear-cut definition. The best way to understand is this: An disease becomes endemic when it becomes more manageable. In the case of COVID-19, we look at the number of new infections, the degree of illness, the number of deaths — and the stress it places on the health care system.
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In the case of COVID-19, continued vaccination, testing and improvements in indoor air circulation will not only help us reach an endemic state — it will help us stay there.
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