Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Public Health

Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Public Health 1. Epidemic vs. Pandemic These terms often make headlines, but do you know the difference? An epidemic refers to a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease within a specific population or area. On the other hand, a pandemic is a global outbreak, affecting multiple countries or continents. COVID-19, for example, started as an epidemic in Wuhan, China, and later became a pandemic, spreading worldwide. 2. Endemic vs. Epidemic While both terms describe the occurrence of a disease, they differ in scale. An endemic refers to the constant presence of a disease within a particular population or area. It's like a baseline level. In contrast, an epidemic, as we discussed earlier, is a sudden surge in cases. Malaria, for instance, is endemic in some regions, but when there's a spike in cases, it can turn into an epidemic. 3. Outbreak vs. Cluster When we hear about a disease outbreak, it's natural to think of a large-scale event. However, an outbreak can be as few as two cases occurring in a specific area within a short period.