An epidemic is the occurrence of more cases of disease than expected in a given area or among a specific group of people over a particular period of time.
A pandemic is an epidemic of worldwide proportions; a global disease outbreak. It is determined by how the disease spreads, not how many deaths it causes.
A flu pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity and for which there is no vaccine. The disease spreads easily person-to-person, causes serious illness and often death, and can sweep across a country and the world in very short time.
The CDC hosts The Pandemic Awareness Homepage:
- Pandemic Basics
- Pandemic Flu History details previous flu pandemics
- Global Activities monitors potential pandemic activities around the world
- Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions Planning Guidance and Checklists