"An epidemic is the rapid spread of disease to a large number of hosts in a given population within a short period of time."
Study of infectious disease outbreaks and how they are contained and treated over time.
The history of epidemics and pandemics: An overview of major pandemics throughout history, including the Black Death, Spanish Flu, and HIV/AIDS.
The basics of microbiology: Understanding the viruses and bacteria that cause epidemics and how they spread.
The science of vaccines: How vaccines work, their history, and controversies surrounding them.
Pandemic preparedness: How governments and organizations can prepare for potential pandemic outbreaks.
Epidemiology: Understanding the spread and control of diseases in populations.
Public health policies and strategies: How policies can be implemented to prevent and control epidemics and pandemics.
Disease surveillance and outbreak investigations: How to identify and manage outbreaks.
Social and economic impacts of epidemics and pandemics: How they affect communities, economies, and healthcare systems.
Global health security and international cooperation: Cross-border cooperation and coordination in response to pandemics.
Ethical considerations in epidemic and pandemic response: Questions of individual rights vs. public health interests.
Bubonic plague: A bacterial infection spread by fleas on rodents that causes severe illness and often results in death.
Cholera: A bacterial infection that mainly affects the intestines, leading to diarrhea and dehydration, which can be lethal if left untreated.
Influenza: A viral infection that causes respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, fever, and body aches, and can lead to severe complications or even death in vulnerable populations.
Smallpox: A viral infection that causes fever, rash, and scarring and can lead to serious complications or death.
Spanish Flu: A pandemic (global outbreak) caused by the H1N1 strain of influenza virus that killed millions of people worldwide in 1918-19.
HIV/AIDS: A viral infection that attacks the immune system, making people more susceptible to other infections and diseases.
SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome): A respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV virus that emerged in 2002-2003 and caused a global crisis.
Swine flu (H1N1): A pandemic strain of influenza virus that emerged in 2009 and caused a global outbreak that affected millions of people.
Ebola virus disease: A severe viral infection that causes fever, bleeding, and organ failure and can be fatal in up to 90% of cases.
Zika virus disease: A viral infection that is primarily transmitted by mosquitoes and can cause birth defects if contracted during pregnancy.
COVID-19: A respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that emerged in late 2019 and has caused a global pandemic with millions of cases and deaths worldwide.
"Several factors including a change in the ecology of the host population, a genetic change in the pathogen reservoir, or the introduction of an emerging pathogen to a host population."
"Generally, an epidemic occurs when host immunity to either an established pathogen or newly emerging novel pathogen is suddenly reduced below that found in the endemic equilibrium and the transmission threshold is exceeded."
"An epidemic occurs when host immunity is reduced below the endemic equilibrium, whereas endemic diseases are sustained at a relatively constant level within a population."
"The declaration of an epidemic usually requires a good understanding of a baseline rate of incidence; epidemics for certain diseases, such as influenza, are defined as reaching some defined increase in incidence above this baseline."
"An epidemic may be restricted to one location."
"If it spreads to other countries or continents and affects a substantial number of people, it may be termed a pandemic."
"In meningococcal infections, an attack rate in excess of 15 cases per 100,000 people for two consecutive weeks is considered an epidemic."
"An epidemic can cause enormous damage through financial and economic losses in addition to impaired health and loss of life."
"An epidemic occurs when host immunity is reduced below the endemic equilibrium."
"Factors such as increased stress or an increase in the density of a vector species can change the ecology of the host population."
"The introduction of an emerging pathogen to a host population can result in an epidemic, either through the movement of the pathogen or the host."
"A few cases of a very rare disease may be classified as an epidemic."
"Many cases of a common disease (such as the common cold) would not [be classified as an epidemic]."
"An epidemic can cause enormous damage through financial and economic losses."
"Increased density of a vector species can contribute to the spread of an epidemic."
"An epidemic occurs when the transmission threshold is exceeded."
"It is the baseline rate of incidence at which host immunity is maintained."
"A genetic change in the pathogen reservoir can contribute to the occurrence of epidemics."
"Movement of either the pathogen or the host can facilitate the spread of an emerging pathogen to a host population."