Pandemics and Epidemics

An epidemic is defined as an outbreak of disease that spreads quickly and affects many individuals at the same time and is generally localized. A pandemic is an epidemic but one with greater range and coverage. It can be classed as an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects a much higher percentage of the population and mostly in a wide range of territories and countries.

Epidemic began being used as a noun late in the 17th century but the use of the word pandemic did not enter into common usage until the 19th century. The word epidemic can be traced back to the Greek word epidḗmios. This means: within the country, among the people and prevalent — such as a disease. It may carry broader meanings, such as being excessively widespread or contagious. It can be used non-medically also.

Pandemic comes from the Greek pandēmos meaning of all the people. This itself is from “pan” meaning all and ever and “dēmos” meaning people. Pandemic is less often used in a non-medical sense. It does have a more widespread meaning though, alluding to affecting the majority of people in a country or a number of countries. It can also have a meaning as; found in most parts of the world and in varied ecological conditions or geographical locations.