Difference between Epidemic, Pandemic and Endemic Diseases with examples

WHO’s classification of disease is based on disease's rate of spread. Remember, it is not based on the severity of the disease.

Let’s understand why Covid 19 is called a pandemic?

Diseases are classified into Epidemic, Pandemic and Endemic diseases.

Epidemic: (Epi means ‘upon’; demos mean ‘people’ or ‘population’:

Disease with a sudden increase in the number of disease cases or an outbreak of a disease in a specific geographical area or a population.

Examples: 

• Ebola outbreak in West Africa
• 1949 smallpox epidemic U.S
• Yellow fever epidemic

Pandemic: (Pan means ‘all’; demos mean ‘people’ or ‘population’:

Disease with a sudden increase in the number of disease cases spreading several countries or continents or all over the world.

In other words; an epidemic when spreads globally or to several countries becomes a pandemic.

Examples: 

• Covid-19 pandemic
• 2009 swine flu pandemic
• 1918 Spanish flu pandemic
• HIV/AIDS pandemic

Watch this 3 minute video for better understanding

Endemic: (En means ‘in’; demos mean ‘people’ or ‘population’:

Disease constantly present in a population or a region with relatively low spread and at predictable rates.

The disease may be periodic or seasonal.  

Examples:

• Malaria in Africa, Asia, Latin America & Middle East
• Chagas disease in Mexico, South & Central America