Pandemic vs. Epidemic: What’s the Difference?

COVID-19 rapidly spread across the globe in early 2020, and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the disease a pandemic on March 11. But what is a pandemic? And how is it different from an epidemic?

View the infographic below to learn more, created by Ohio University’s Online Master of Science in Nursing.

Chapter 1: Pandemic vs. Epidemic

A pandemic starts out as an epidemic and then spreads across countries and continents, infecting people around the globe.

Key Differences

• An epidemic occurs:
  • In a locality where the disease is not permanently prevalent [Dictionary]
  • When an infectious agent suddenly becomes highly transmissible in an area where it already existed
  • When an outbreak spreads across a previously unaffected area
  • When individuals who were previously immune to an infectious agent suddenly become ill after contracting it
• A pandemic is an epidemic that has spread across geographic regions. [Healthline]

Key Phases in the Development of a Pandemic

• A pandemic entails six phases, according to WHO:
  • A virus is transmitted among animals but not humans.
  • The virus is detected in animals capable of infecting
  • An animal infects a human.
  • Humans infect each other and introduce the possibility of a community outbreak.
  • The virus spreads to humans in at least two countries in the same region.
  • A third country, in a different region, experiences community-level outbreaks, indicating a pandemic. [Healthline]

Key Terms

• Endemic: An infectious disease that is always present in a region
• Sporadic: When an outbreak occurs in an irregular pattern
• Outbreak: A spike in the number of cases of an illness in one area beyond what health officials expect [Healthline]
• Animal-human interface: When humans and animals interact after land is developed for human use but forest animals remain present, leading to the spread of disease
• Index case: The first person infected with a pathogen — also known as “patient zero”
• Reservoir: An animal, plant, or environment in which an illness may exist for a prolonged period of time
• Spillover: The transmission of disease between species
• Vector: A living being that infects another living being
• Zoonosis: Any illness that spreads from animals (including insects) to people [Becker’s]

Chapter 2: A Brief History of Epidemics and Pandemics

For thousands of years, infectious diseases have ravaged nations and continents, impacting many areas of life.

The Impact of Epidemics and Pandemics

• Cholera epidemic (Hamburg), 1892
  • News of the illness was suppressed by merchants, who feared the effect of quarantine on trade.
  • Cholera claimed 10,000 lives in about six weeks.
  • The outbreak was heavily documented in personal letters, diaries, and newspapers. [New Yorker]
• Spanish flu pandemic, 1918
  • Influenza infected about one-third of the world population.
  • Poor hygiene, increased travel during a world war, and extremely crowded living conditions led to increased virality.
  • The pandemic ended in the summer of 1919. [Healthline 2]
• Swine flu pandemic, 2009
  • H1N1 infected about 24% of the world population.
  • The disease is treated with antivirals.
  • The pandemic ended in August 2010.
• Ebola epidemic, 2014-2016
  • The virus is transmitted through bodily fluids, such as sweat and blood.
  • Ebola spread across 10 countries during the epidemic, with 28,652 cases.
  • No vaccine or treatment was available. [Healthline 2]
• Zika fever epidemic, 2015
  • Zika virus spreads through mosquitoes of the Aedes genus and is sexually transmitted in humans.
  • It attacks infants in the womb and causes birth defects.
  • The virus flourishes in warm and humid climates. [Livescience]
• COVID-19 pandemic, 2020
  • The novel coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan, China.
  • It’s transmitted through respiratory droplets, feces, and other bodily secretions.
  • COVID-19 is most threatening to adults over 65 with underlying health conditions. [Healthline 2]

The Positive Effect of Scientific Advancements on Infectious Illnesses

• Prior to the 20th century, scientists didn’t know what caused a disease and believed, for example, that an invisible gas rising from the ground caused cholera.
• The development of germ theory in the late 19th century showed that bacteria spread
• The development of the microscope allowed scientists to see microscopic organisms.
• The discovery of how germs are transmitted led to improved hygienic measures. [New Yorker]

Chapter 3: How Epidemics and Pandemics Impact Health Care

COVID-19 has impacted health care practitioners in different ways, depending on their area of practice and geographical location.

How Health Care Organizations Adjust During the Pandemic

• During COVID-19, nurses have been:
  • Leading response efforts
  • Overseeing disaster preparedness
  • Managing hospital and field operations
  • Performing predictive modeling
  • Managing human resources [Scientific American]
• Hospitals across the country pushed to reduce unnecessary visits and increase care provided through telehealth. [Modern Healthcare]
• According to a survey conducted between April 7 and April 8, 2020, medical practices have experienced the following changes since the crisis began:
  • A 60% drop in patient volume, on average
  • A 55% decrease in revenue, on average
  • Staff furloughs among 48% of practices
  • Permanent staff layoffs among 22% of practices [Fierce Healthcare]

Four Ways COVID-19 May Change Health Care

• New strategies for elective surgeries.
  • Health care organizations must learn to approach patients who delayed elective surgeries and procedures in ways that make them feel safe.
  • Patients who are unwilling to undergo surgery in a hospital are turning to ambulatory surgery centers for their procedures.
• Greater development of local supply chain sources.
  • COVID-19 has exposed serious flaws in hospital supply chains for vital equipment, such as respirators and personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • Competing health systems have been forced to work together to obtain equipment and supplies.
• Acceleration of digital health options.
  • Health care organizations did a decade’s worth of work in a few months to implement telehealth technology.
  • Consumers have realized that they have many virtual and digital health care options to choose from.
• Innovations with drones and robotics.
  • Disinfection robots can limit how many health care practitioners are exposed during a cleaning
  • The adoption of robotic innovations among health care organizations often follows consumer adoption. [Fierce Healthcare 2]

Conclusion:

Every crisis exposes a system’s weaknesses and strengths, forcing organizations to adapt quickly and develop innovative solutions. As a result of COVID-19, the U.S. health care system will likely experience rapid progress and growth spurred by innovations in technology and care delivery.

Sources

https://www.dictionary.com/e/epidemic-vs-pandemic/
https://www.healthline.com/health/pandemic-vs-epidemic
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-deadly-is-the-coronavirus-compared-to-past-outbreaks
https://www.livescience.com/worst-epidemics-and-pandemics-in-history.html
https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/11-key-infectious-disease-terms-to-know.html
https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/how-governments-respond-to-pandemics-like-the-coronavirus
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/nurses-are-playing-a-crucial-role-in-this-pandemic-mdash-as-always/
https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/practices/nearly-half-physicians-practices-have-had-to-layoff-furlough-workers-mgma-survey-finds
https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/tech/4-ways-healthcare-will-change-from-impact-covid-19-experts-say
https://www.modernhealthcare.com/technology/how-covid-19-pandemic-will-change-healthcare-delivery