A pandemic is a global outbreak of disease that affects most countries, continents or the world. It can be caused by any illness that spreads easily from person to person, and most often by viruses. In the past, several pandemics have killed millions of people – including the Black Death, the first cholera pandemic, the AIDS epidemic and the seventh cholera pandemic.
The virus must infect a lot of people to be considered a pandemic, but how many people are sick or die depends on the virus itself and their other health conditions. It also depends on how fast the virus spreads. Some viruses spread quickly, while others are slower.
In the first phase, the virus is spreading among a large number of people but not very far. This is an epidemic. In the second phase, the virus is spreading rapidly across multiple regions but not yet worldwide. This is a pandemic.
When a pandemic occurs, people will be asked to stay home and limit their contacts. They will be told to wash their hands frequently with soap and water, cover coughs or sneezes, use a face mask in public and disinfect high-touch surfaces at home. They will be encouraged to review their family emergency plans and update them as needed, and to keep supplies such as non-perishable food, water and prescriptions on hand. They should also consider the impact on their work and childcare arrangements and make plans to be able to continue working from home or at a different location.