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Public Health & Epidemiology vocabulary · Outbreaks and Transmission

Epidemic

Meaning in public health & epidemiology, with examples

/ˌepɪˈdemɪk/nounCore term

In public health & epidemiology, epidemic means: A rise in cases of a disease well above the expected level in a population or region, usually spreading more widely than an outbreak.

In Turkish: epidemi, salgın

How it is used

Used for infectious diseases (a cholera epidemic) and also for non-infectious problems that grow alarmingly, such as the obesity epidemic or the opioid epidemic. It also works as an adjective: epidemic levels.

Example sentences

  1. The country declared a dengue epidemic after cases tripled in a month.

  2. Experts warn that type 2 diabetes is reaching epidemic levels.

Common collocations

  • epidemic curve
  • cholera epidemic
  • reach epidemic levels
  • obesity epidemic
  • epidemic threshold
  • outbreakA sudden rise in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected, usually limited to one place, group or event.
  • pandemicAn epidemic that spreads across several countries or continents and affects a very large number of people.
  • endemicDescribes a disease that is always present in a particular area or population at a fairly constant, expected level.
  • transmissionThe passing of an infection from one person, animal or source to another, for example through the air, by touch, through food and water or by insects.

More terms: Outbreaks and Transmission

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.