Epidemic 66981 223096121 2008-07-02T15:34:49Z Mspraveen 5424501 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/114.31.166.155|114.31.166.155]] to last version by Rjwilmsi (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) {{otheruses}} {{Wiktionary|epidemic}} In [[epidemiology]], an '''epidemic''' (from [[Greek language|Greek]] ''epi-'' upon + ''demos'' people) is a [[ICD|classification of a disease]] that appears as new cases in a given human population, during a given menistral period, at a rate that substantially exceeds what is "expected," based on recent experience (the number of new cases in the population during a specified period of time is called the "incidence rate"). (An [[epizootic]] is the same thing but for an animal population.) The disease may or may not be contagious. ==Classification== Defining an epidemic can be subjective, depending in part on what is "expected". An epidemic may be restricted to one locale (an outbreak), more general (an "epidemic") or even global ([[pandemic]]). Because it is based on what is "expected" or thought normal, a few cases of a very rare disease like rabies may be classified as an "epidemic," while many cases of a common disease (like the common cold) would not. ===Endemic diseases=== Common diseases that occur at a constant but relatively high rate in the population are said to be "[[endemic (epidemiology)|endemic]]." An example of an endemic disease is [[malaria]] in some parts of [[Africa]] (for example, [[Liberia]]) in which a large portion of the population is expected to get malaria at some point in their lifetimes. ===Non-infectious disease usage=== The term "epidemic" is often used in a sense to refer to widespread and growing [[society|societal]] problems, for example, in discussions of [[obesity]], [[mental illness]] or [[drug addiction]]. It can also be used metaphorically to relate a type of problem like those mentioned above. ==Notable epidemics through history== {{Mergefrom|Pandemic#Pandemics_and_notable_epidemics_through_history|date=February 2008}} Famous examples of epidemics include the [[bubonic plague]] epidemic of [[Medieval]] [[Europe]] known as ''the [[Black Death]]'', and the [[Great Influenza Pandemic]] which coincided with the end of [[World War I]]. ==Factors stimulating new epidemics== Factors that have been described by [[Mark Woolhouse]] and [[Sonya Gowtage-Sequeria]] to stimulate the rise of new epidemics <ref>[http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol11no12/05-0997.htm "Emerging Infectious Diseases" by Mark E.J. Woolhouse and Sonya Gowtage-Sequeria]</ref> include: #Alterations in agricultural practices and land use #Changes in society and human [[Overpopulation|demographics]] #Poor population health (e.g. malnutrition, HIV, ...) #Hospitals and medical procedures #Evolution of the pathogen (e.g. increased [[virulence]], [[drug resistance]],) #[[Contamination]] of water supplies and food sources #International travel #Failure of public health programs #International trade #[[Climate change]] Several other factors have also been mentioned in different reports, such as the report by professor [[Andy Dobson]] <ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s587071.htm Andy Dobson blaming reduced levels of biodiversity as a epidemic-triggering factor]</ref> and the report by professor [[Akilesh Mishra]] <ref>[http://cmbi.bjmu.edu.cn/news/0610/12.htm Akilesh Mishra blaming certain disease outbreaks on urban planning]</ref>.These include : # Reduced levels of [[biodiversity]] (e.g. through environmental destruction) # Bad [[urban planning]] ==Pre-emptive measures== To protect us against the emergence of new epidemics, several preemptive measures have been proposed by professor [[Nina Marano]] <ref>[http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2004/WHO_CDS_CPE_ZFK_2004.9.pdf professor Nina Marano proposing measures against epidemics]</ref>, and [[Andy Dobson]]. These include: * To eat less food containing [[Protein in nutrition|animal protein]] (eg [[meat]], milk, milk-derivates) * To eat [[local food]] * To eat crops according to the season * To make [[agriculture]] more efficient * To avoid destruction of the [[rainforest]] * To be prepared to pay a higher price for [[meat]] In addition, certain other measures are known to reduce the beneficial factors found above. As such, the measures would also decrease the possible emergence of new epidemics. These measures are: * [[Population control]] measures * Improving the [[urban planning]] ==Renewed concern== In August 2007, the [[World Health Organization]] reported an unprecedented rate of propagation of [[infectious disease]]s.<ref name= bbc>{{cite web|title= WHO warns of global epidemic risk |publisher= BBC News |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6959583.stm |date= 2007-08-23 |accessdate= 2008-02-05}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} ==See also== * [[List of epidemics]] * [[Population control]] * [[Overpopulation]] * [[Pandemic]] * [[Biosecurity]] * [[OpenEpi]] * [[Epi Info]] ==External links== *[http://www.laprp.com/article.php?aid=348 Video Discussion of the Prostate Cancer Epidemic] *[http://vlab.infotech.monash.edu.au/simulations/cellular-automata/epidemic/ Monash Virtual Laboratory] - Simulations of epidemic spread across a landscape [[Category:Epidemiology]] [[Category:Epidemics| ]] [[Category:Pandemics| ]] [[Category:Biological hazards]] [[af:Epidemie]] [[ar:وباء]] [[bs:Epidemija]] [[ca:Epidèmia]] [[cs:Epidemie]] [[da:Epidemi]] [[de:Epidemie]] [[es:Epidemia]] [[eo:Epidemio]] [[eu:Izurri]] [[fr:Épidémie]] [[gl:Epidemia]] [[id:Wabah]] [[it:Epidemia]] [[la:Epidemia]] [[lt:Epidemija]] [[nl:Epidemie]] [[ja:伝染病]] [[no:Epidemi]] [[nn:Epidemi]] [[nds:Süük]] [[pl:Epidemia]] [[pt:Epidemia]] [[ro:Epidemie]] [[qu:Unquy mast'akuy]] [[ru:Эпидемия]] [[sq:Epidemia]] [[scn:Pidimìa]] [[simple:Epidemic]] [[sk:Epidémia]] [[sl:Epidemija]] [[sr:Епидемија]] [[fi:Epidemia]] [[sv:Epidemi]] [[th:โรคระบาด]] [[tr:Salgın]] [[uk:Епідемія]] [[zh:流行病]]