The Difference Between a Pandemic and an Epidemic

Over 150 people have died in Mexico as a result of the recent outbreak of the swine flu. People from all around the world have been affected by this strain, all of whom have visited Mexico within the past few weeks. All over the news, the virus is being referred to as a pandemic, but what exactly is a pandemic? And, what exactly is an epidemic, and which one should we be more afraid of?

An epidemic is defined as a disease affecting many persons at the same time, and spreading from person to person in a locality where the disease is not permanently prevalent. (http://dictionary.reference.com/dic?q=epidemic&search=search)

In other words, it affects a bunch of people in one area, but it stays relatively constrained to that area. It can spread to other locations, however during an epidemic, the disease does not catch on in the extended locations.

For example, say Los Angeles, San Diego, and Oakland all see a large outbreak of people with the same flu-like symptoms. A large percentage of the population is being infected by the same disease at a quick rate. Meanwhile, the same disease pops up in New York City, however there are only a few cases that occur. This is an epidemic.

A pandemic is defined as a disease prevalent throughout an entire country, continent, or the whole world. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pandemic)

In the case of the swine flu, a large amount of people in Mexico have been affected. It has now spread to the United States in fairly large numbers, and it appears to be increasing. Experts are saying that this particular strain is going to be around for a long while, and because it causes outbreaks in various locations, in this case the world, it has been dubbed a pandemic.

So the main difference in deciphering between an epidemic and a pandemic is simply the amount of outbreak in various locations. If it contained to one central area, it is an epidemic, but if it begins to spread to much further distances with increasing infections, it is a pandemic. We should definitely be more aware and scared of a pandemic...unless of course you happen to live in the epicenter of epidemicsville.

Pandemics and epidemics are not easy to stop. People can be treated, and over time will develop immunities to the disease, and therefore it will stop wreaking havoc as it so does when it first hits.

The current swine flu stems from Mexico, and one would think it is a good idea to cease all travel to and from Mexico to try and contain the virus. The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) says no. Because a person infected with the virus can take up to six days to show any physical symptoms, screening at the borders and in airports is useless, so travel should be allowed.

Ok...that may be, but wouldn't it make sense to be safe about it and take every precaution possible? If less people are going into Mexico, there is a less chance of them returning with the flu. If less people are leaving Mexico, there is less chance of them carrying the disease with them to their destination. It is common sense. Until they can begin controlling the swine flu, there is absolutely no reason travel should be allowed in and out of Mexico!

Instead, they are letting tens of thousands of people cross the border between Mexico and the US every single day. First of all, the people going into Mexico are morons, and second of all the W.H.O. is putting the rest of the world, especially the United States, at a greater risk of falling victim to this pandemic by not recommending travel be shut down.

President Obama has told us all to be cautious and to travel only if we have to. C'mon! They're killing us down there...literally! YOU should cease travel to and from the country until this goes away.

Don't go to Mexico...unless you want to be infected...in which case...you too, are a moron.