What is a Pandemic?

Vocabulary lesson discussions.
englishteacher551
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What is a Pandemic?

Postby englishteacher551 » Fri Apr 24, 2020 3:21 am

A pandemic is a global outbreak of disease.

Pandemics happen when a new virus emerges to infect people and can spread between people sustainably.

Because there is little to no pre-existing immunity against the new virus, it spreads worldwide.

The virus that causes COVID-19 infects people and spreads easily from person-to-person.

Cases have been detected in most countries worldwide at the moment and community spread has been detected in a growing number of countries. On March 11, 2020 the COVID-19 outbreak was characterized as a pandemic by the WHO.

Examples of pandemics in history:

COVID-19 (2020)

HIV/Aids (1981 - current)

Flu Pandemic of 1918 (aka Spanish Flu)

Third Plague (1885)

New World Smallpox (1520 - unknown)

Black Death Plague (1347–1351 AD)

Plague of Justinian (541–542 AD)