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A medical dictionary definition of pandemic is "an epidemic occurring on a scale that crosses international boundaries, usually affecting people on a worldwide scale". A disease or condition is not a pandemic merely because it is widespread or kills many people; it must also be infectious.
Jun 25, 2024 · Learn about the causes, effects, and examples of pandemics, outbreaks of infectious disease that affect a large part of the world's population. Find out how WHO monitors and responds to pandemic threats, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
- Kara Rogers
- A pandemic is an outbreak of infectious disease that occurs over a wide geographical area and that is of high prevalence. A pandemic generally affe...
- Throughout history, there have been many deadly pandemics, but the Black Death and the influenza pandemic of 1918–19 rank among the most lethal. Th...
- Pandemics can be caused by several factors. For example, in some cases, a new strain or subtype of virus that first emerged in animals jumps to hum...
- Pandemics typically slow and come to an end on their own, though the process may be accelerated through effective preventive strategies, such as im...
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 , began with an outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. It spread to other areas of Asia, and then worldwide in early 2020.
Learn about the symptoms, treatment, prevention and global response to COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Find out how to get vaccinated, protect yourself and others, and access COVID-19 tools and resources.
Get the latest updates on the global COVID-19 situation, including confirmed cases, deaths, vaccines and WHO response. Watch press conferences, videos and access technical guidance and resources.
Explore the global and country-level data on cases, deaths, tests, vaccinations, and policy responses to the coronavirus pandemic. See interactive visualizations, explanations, and sources for each metric.
A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease, such as a new influenza virus or the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The Australian Government has a plan to minimise the impact of pandemics, which includes extra personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers, and border controls.