| Beth ( |
Pandemic has nothing to do with how dangerous or deadly something is, but how quickly and easily it is spread.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a pandemic can start when three conditions have been met:[1]
* Emergence of a disease new to a population.
* Agents infect humans, causing serious illness.
* Agents spread easily and sustainably among humans.
A disease or condition is not a pandemic merely because it is widespread or kills many people; it must also be infectious. For instance, cancer is responsible for many deaths but is not considered a pandemic, because the disease is not infectious or contagious.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a pandemic can start when three conditions have been met:[1]
* Emergence of a disease new to a population.
* Agents infect humans, causing serious illness.
* Agents spread easily and sustainably among humans.
A disease or condition is not a pandemic merely because it is widespread or kills many people; it must also be infectious. For instance, cancer is responsible for many deaths but is not considered a pandemic, because the disease is not infectious or contagious.