Definition: A global disease outbreak.
A pandemic is a worldwide epidemic that, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), has to meet three conditions:
- The microbe infects and causes serious illness in humans.
- Humans do not have immunity against the virus.
- The virus spreads easily from person-to-person and survives within humans.
Source:
World Health Organization. WHO global influenza preparedness plan. The role of WHO and recommendations for national measures before and during pandemics - March 2005
Pronunciation: pan-DEM-ik
