2.3: Epidemics and Pandemics

Question 1

Epidemic

Answer 1

Occurs when a pathogen spreads its disease more than usual in a short space of time and leads to widespread disease.
Can be caused by a number of factors such as:
* Increased virulence of the pathogen, caused by a mutation
* The transmission of a pathogen to a new group of humans
* The transmission of a pathogen from animals to humans that previously did not occur
* Low immunity to the pathogen in the population

Question 2

Epidemic v Pandemic

Answer 2

An epidemic is a disease affecting a large number of people within a community, population or region, whereas a pandemic is an epidemic that has pread over multiple countries or continents.

Question 3

Examples of Epidemics

Answer 3

Yellow fever, smallpox, measles, polio, ebola, cholera. Epidemic disease doesn’t necessarily have to be contagious.

Question 4

Factors influencing the spread of infectious disease

Answer 4

• Transmission mechanisms
• Mobility of populations
• Intravenous drug use
• Poor sanitation
• Spread from animals (clearing vegetation, or keeping exotic pets)

Question 5

Methods of disease control

Answer 5

hand hygiene.
respiratory and cough hygiene.
PPE.
safe management of care equipment.
safe management of the environment.