Self-Instruct
An epidemic is an outbreak of a disease that affects a large number of people within a community or a region. It is usually limited to a specific geographical location. A pandemic is a worldwide epidemic, meaning it affects a large number of people across the globe.
Epidemics are usually caused by a single pathogen, while pandemics can be caused by multiple pathogens. For example, the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic was caused by a virus that had multiple strains.
Epidemics usually have a shorter duration than pandemics, as they are limited to a specific geographic area. Pandemics, on the other hand, can last for months or even years.
Epidemics are usually localized and can be contained quickly. Pandemics, on the other hand, can spread quickly across the globe, making them much harder to contain.
Epidemics are usually caused by a single pathogen, while pandemics can be caused by multiple pathogens. Pandemics can also be caused by a single pathogen, but it must be highly contagious and easily spread from person to person.
Epidemics usually affect a limited number of people in a specific area, while pandemics can affect millions of people in multiple countries.
In conclusion, the main difference between an epidemic and a pandemic is the geographic area they affect and the number of people they affect. An epidemic is usually limited to a specific region, while a pandemic can spread across the globe.