What is the difference between pandemic, endemic, and epidemic?
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Pandemic, endemic, and epidemic are all terms that describe how far a disease or pathogen has spread within a geographical region or population.
Medically reviewed by Joseph Vinetz, MD
By Caitlin Geng
An endemic disease is one that is always present throughout a region or group of people and remains fairly consistent. An example of this is coccidioidomycosis, or valley fever, which is endemic to the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
An epidemic occurs when a disease unexpectedl...
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