an outbreak of disease such that for a limited period a significantly greater number of persons in a community or region suffer from it than is normally the case Thus an epidemic is a temporary increase in prevalence Its extent and duration are determined by the interaction of such variables as the nature and infectivity of the casual agent, its mode of transmission and the degree of preexisting and newly acquired immunity 43
An outbreak of an acute illness that infects many individuals in a population by spreading rapidly among many people at the same time and can be difficult or impossible to contain The occurrence of illnesses or outbreak clearly exceeds the normal expectancy in the given population at the given season of the year
If there is an epidemic of a particular disease somewhere, it affects a very large number of people there and spreads quickly to other areas. A flu epidemic is sweeping through Moscow. a killer epidemic of yellow fever
A disease that occurs clearly in excess of normal expectation and spreads rapidly through a demographic segment of the human population Epidemic diseases can be spread from person to person or from a contaminated source such as food or water
Common to, or affecting at the same time, a large number in a community; applied to a disease which, spreading widely, attacks many persons at the same time; as, an epidemic disease; an epidemic catarrh, fever, etc
a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease; many people are infected at the same time (especially of medicine) of disease or anything resembling a disease; attacking or affecting many individuals in a community or a population simultaneously; "an epidemic outbreak of influenza
(especially of medicine) of disease or anything resembling a disease; attacking or affecting many individuals in a community or a population simultaneously; "an epidemic outbreak of influenza"
1 The occurrence in a community or region of cases of an illness, specific health-related behavior, or other health-related events clearly in excess of normal expectancy The number of cases indicating the presence of an epidemic varies according to the agent, size, and type of population The purpose of surveillance systems is to identify epidemics as early as possible so that effective control measures can be put in place This remains the most important use for epidemiology (Last's epidemiological definition) 2 A disease that is only present for a limited time in a human population or animal population that is transmittable to humans, and has a very high morbidity rate (US Army Field Manual definition) See also behavioral epidemic; disease epidemic; pandemic; threatened epidemic
a widespread outbreak of a disease, or a large number of cases of a disease in a single community or relatively small area Disease may spread from person to person, and/or by the exposure of many persons to a single source, such as a water supply
Occurrence in the community or region of a group of illnesses (or an outbreak) of similar nature, obviously in excess of normal expectancy and derived from a common or propagated source
disapproval If an activity that you disapprove of is increasing or spreading rapidly, you can refer to this as an epidemic of that activity. an epidemic of serial killings Drug experts say it could spell the end of the crack epidemic. epidemic parotitis influenza epidemic of 1918-19 Spanish influenza epidemic
Widespread outbreak of a disease, or a large number of cases of a disease in a single community or relatively small area Disease may spread from person to person, and/or by the exposure of many persons to a single source, such as a water supply
Term used to describe a disease affecting, or tending to affect, a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community or region at the same time