Coronavirus: WHO declares the outbreak 'pandemic', what's the difference with epidemic

World Health Organisation on Wednesday declared vel coronavirus, or COVID-19, outbreak as a pandemic, months after virus spre from China's Wuhan. Over one lakh twenty thousand people have been tested positive for virus and at least 4,000 people have died. virus has spre to nearly 120 countries and so far, 67 cases have been reported in India.

virus was alrey classified as an epidemic in China. But w that classification has changed, here's a look into what differentiates epidemic from pandemic.

Following outbreak of coronavirus in central China's metropolis of Wuhan in late December last year, authorities re scrambled resources to contain spre. entire province of Hubei, of which Wuhan is capital, was under a tight lockdown for over a month. mobility of people was restricted across China as an immediate response. WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on January 30.

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What is an epidemic?

A disease is categorised as an epidemic when cases of disease are reported "in excess of rmal expectancy". An epidemic is an outbreak over a larger geographic area. So when coronavirus spre outside Wuhan and number of cases from or parts of China began breaking records by day, epidemiologists knew outbreak was spreing, a likely sign that containment efforts were insufficient or came too late.

conclusion was expected as cure or vaccine was available. Widespre cases of COVID-19 across China meant that  Wuhan outbreak h grown to an epidemic. 

According to Centre for Disease Control (CDC), an epidemic may result from:

• A recent increase in amount or virulence of nt (virus, bacteria),
• recent introduction of nt into a setting where it has t been before,
• An enhanced mode of transmission so that more susceptible persons are exposed,
• A change in susceptibility of host response to nt, and/or
• Factors that increase host exposure or involve introduction through new portals of entry.

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What is a pandemic?

Pandemic refers to an epidemic that has spre over several countries or continents, usually affecting a large number of people. It basically means that re is a simultaneous and sustained spre of a disease across world, across international borders. 

To set in clear terms, a person infected with COVID-19 who returns to India from China doesn’t make a pandemic. But once y infect a few family members or friends and cycle continues to infect more and more people in a community and raises toll of infection cases, n it becomes a major health problem. If new local outbreaks ensue, epidemiologists will agree that efforts to control global spre have failed and refer to emerging situation as a pandemic.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros ham Ghebreyesus warned of a furr rise in number of cases, fatality and  number of affected countries. “In days and weeks ahe, we expect to see number of cases, number of deaths and number of affected countries to climb even higher.”

 last time WHO declared a pandemic was during 2009 H1N1 swine flu outbreak. Tedros said COVID-19 is first time a coronavirus has caused a pandemic.  2002-2003 outbreak of SARS, which is also a coronavirus, was contained eugh to avoid that classification.

WHO's clear mess to world

WHO chief said several countries like China and South Korea have been able to suppress and control COVID-19 outbreak, but he scolded or world leers for failing to act quickly or drastically eugh to contain spre.

“We’re deeply concerned, both by alarming levels of spre and severity, and by alarming levels of inaction. We have rung alarm bell loud and clear,” Tedros said.

That means WHO wants governments across world to take more urgent steps to arrest furr worsening of situation. It has alrey pressed countries to pledge more funds to fight disease and undertake precautionary measures in those nations who haven't yet reported cases.

(With inputs from ncies) (AP photo)

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