Pandemic

Definition:

An epidemic that is geographically widespread; occurring throughout a region or even throughout the world.

Source: CoRIS Glossary 

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Research has identified three prerequisites for the start of a pandemic.

  1. A novel virus subtype must emerge to which the general population will have no or little immunity.
  2. The new virus must be able to replicate in humans and cause serious illness.
  3. The new virus must be efficiently transmitted from one human to another; efficient human- to-human transmission is expressed as sustained chains of transmission causing community-wide outbreaks.

Source: WHO  Avian Influenza: assessing the pandemic threat

Related words:

Epidemic

Translation(s):

Español: Pandemia
Français: Pandémie
Nederlands: Pandemie

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