Disease Outbreak
Definition
A disease outbreak refers to an occurrence of cases of an infectious disease within a specific population and geographical area that is greater than what is normally expected.
Analogy
Imagine a class of students where on any given day, there are usually one or two students absent due to illness. However, if suddenly half the class is absent and multiple students have similar symptoms like coughing and sneezing, it could be an indication of a disease outbreak.
Related terms
Epidemic: A sudden increase in the number of cases of a particular disease within a population or geographic area.
Endemic: A disease that is constantly present in a specific population or geographical area.
Pandemic: An epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents and affects a large number of people.
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