Epidemics and Pandemics

An epidemic that becomes unusually widespread and even global in its reach is referred to as a(n) _________________ .

• endemic

• pandemic

• outbreak

Which would most likely aid in the prevention of an epidemic?

• drinkng lots of liquids

• isolating infected individuals

• researching non-infectious diseases

• taking antibiotcs before symptoms begin

Which best compares an epidemic and a pandemic?

• An epidemic is caused by bacteria, while a pandemic is caused by viruses.

• A pandemic is spread by humans, while an epidemic is spread by insects and rodents.

• A pandemic occurs in a small region, while an epidemic occurs in a much larger region.

• An epidemic affects a small population of humans, while a pandemic affects a large population of humans.

Which disease would be an example of a current pandemic?

• HIV

• measles

• chicken pox

Which sentence BEST describes a pandemic?

• The disease causes high fever and vomiting

• The disease passes through direct contact with an infected person

• The disease is fatal if not treated immediately

• The disease has spread to every country in the Northern Hemisphere

Which term refers to the spread of disease across a large region or sometimes worldwide?

• antibiotic

• pathogenic

• pandemic

• epidemic

Epidemic measles outbreaks were once common, but their occurrence has greatly diminished. Which BEST explains this?

• Children receive immunity to the measles virus from their mothers

• The measles virus has largely been removed from the environment

• The measles vaccine has greatly reduced the number of viral infections

• Increased hand washing has greatly reduced the spread of the measles virus

In 1918, an outbreak of influenza infected 500,000 people all over the world. Tens of millions of those infected died. In 1994, an outbreak of pneumonic plague spread quickly through the city of Surat in India, killing 52 people. Which statement BESTdescribes the two events?

• Both outbreaks were pandemics.

• Both outbreaks were epidemics

• The influenza outbreak was a pandemic. The plague outbreak was an epidemic.

• The influenza outbreak was an epidemic. The plague outbreak was a pandemic.

Epidemic is best classified as an outbreak of infectious disease that

• spreads across a large region, even more widespread than a pandemic

• spreads across a large region, but is not as widespread as a pandemic