A pandemic- What is it all about?

A pandemic is defined as worldwide spread of a new disease –

but the exact threshold for declaring one is quite vague.

In practice,

the actions being taken would not change

whether or not a pandemic is declared.

Containment measures

are not simply about eliminating the disease altogether.

Delaying the onset of an outbreak

or decreasing the peak

is crucial

in allowing health systems to cope

with a sudden influx of patients.