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An epidemic is the occurrence in a given area and in a given time period of a greater number of cases in a given disease entity than statistically expected. So it is a high and sudden intensity of disease compared to previous years.
The word epidemic (from the Greek epi: haunting + demos: people) has come into common use and more and more often in the colloquial sense the word epizootia (plague, plague) is also replaced – referring to the occurrence of diseases among animals, not people.
In the modern world, the epidemic is precisely defined from the legal point of view. In order to announce an outbreak of an epidemic in an administrative manner, the disease phenomenon must meet certain conditions. In Poland, the legal definition in administrative law applies, according to which the epidemic is:
“(…) the occurrence in a given area of infections or incidence of an infectious disease in a number clearly greater than in the previous period, or the occurrence of infections or infectious diseases that did not occur so far.” (Act of 5 December 2008 on preventing and combating infections and infectious diseases and people, Journal of Laws No. 234 item 1570 as amended).
Flu epidemic
Every year in the temperate zone, in the fall and winter months, there are a number of cases of influenza. This time is commonly referred to as the flu season or flu epidemic season. However, not always, despite frequent cases of this virus, we can talk about an epidemic.
The influenza virus is highly variable, which makes it impossible to acquire biological resistance. Also in the case of immunization, work on vaccines is continuous, as viruses constantly mutate and change their properties.
Influenza is a very common disease, easily contagious, and does not give you constant immunity. Flu can be had many times, and if it is mild, often without a proper diagnosis. Depending on the intensity of influenza in a given area, an “epidemic” can be announced in an administrative manner – which gives the authorities specific tools to fight the increase in the disease (school / workplace closures, compulsory treatment / vaccinations, closing borders, quarantine of a designated area, etc.) ). The only recommended, effective method of prophylaxis is annual preventive vaccinations, care for hygiene and avoidance of large groups of people in case of increased morbidity in a given area.
Plague epidemic
The most famous epidemic in history (thanks to the novel by Albert Camus – “The Plague”) is the plague epidemic that broke out in Europe in the fourteenth century. Called the “Black Death”, the disease took a huge toll, killing as many as one third of our continent’s population.
The epidemic broke out in Asia, from where it traveled along the silk route to Crimea, the Mediterranean countries and the whole of Europe. The disease carriers were probably rats that traveled on merchant ships, and more specifically the fleas that lived on them. The plague was caused by a bacterium – the plague stick (Yersinia pestis).
Can the plague come back?
In addition to the famous medieval plague epidemic, the world has struggled with this disease several times. The first epidemic was diagnosed in the Byzantine Empire (“Justinian’s plague”, 541-542), the next one that we mentioned in Europe (“Black Death”, XNUMXth century), however, is not the end. The disease has erupted many times in the past in London, Paris and Oslo. The most shocking, however, was the relapse of the disease in the XNUMXth century in the United States of America. The plague came to the United States during the third largest pandemic, which began in China, later spreading to India and Australia.
It is estimated that 5 to 15 people fall into the plague each year in the United States, mainly in the western states of the country. After World War II, in the years 1944 – 1995, there were 362 cases of the disease in the USA.
The plague epidemic fades fairly quickly due to the lack of a host, but some pathogens can survive, as evidenced by multiple bouts of the plague in human history.
How is an epidemic different from a pandemic?
Unlike an epidemic, which is limited by area, the pandemic is global. Interestingly, the outbreak of the pandemic is favored by the low mortality rate of the disease – fewer victims are guaranteed by a higher contagion rate. Additional factors that facilitate the spread of the disease are:
- lack of biological resistance of the population (especially in the case of long-absent diseases),
- long period of contagiousness,
- contagiousness in the asymptomatic period,
- harmless and / or common symptoms – making diagnostics difficult.
The most famous pandemic in history was the flu pandemic – the so-called A “Spanish woman” in 1918 who killed 50 million people. The 1 A / H1N2009 flu outbreak was also identified as a pandemic. Then 12 people lost their lives around the world.
A pandemic is declared by the WHO (World Health Organization), based on the number of cases and the geographical range of the phenomenon.