Pandemic

contagious

Able to be passed easily from one person to another.

pandemic

Disease that occurs over a wide geographic area - an entire country, continent, or whole world. It affects a very high proportion of the population. A pandemic is an epidemic that has spread over a large area.

social distancing

Measures that reduce contact between large groups of people. Often requires canceling big gatherings (such as conferences, classes, church services, concerts, and sporting events), restricting mass transit and travel, and working from home. The CDC suggests keeping a 6 foot distance between people.

COVID-19

a highly infectious respiratory disease caused by a new coronavirus. The disease was discovered in China in December 2019 and has since spread around the world.

Influenza

flu virus

epidemic

is a rise in the number of cases of a disease beyond what is normally expected in a geographical area

quarantine

isolation to prevent the spread of disease

flatten the curve

means slowing the spread of an epidemic disease so that the healthcare system doesn't become overwhelmed. The curve represents the # of cases over time, and flattening that curve means preventing a huge surge of new cases in a very short period of time.

shelter in place

orders for people to stay at home and not leave unless absolutely necessary. They are put into place to prevent the further spread of the disease and allow health professionals to more effectively treat patients.

respiratory

pertaining to respiration

asymptomatic

showing no symptoms of disease

vaccine

substance prepared from killed or weakened pathogens and introduced into a body to produce immunity

incubation period

the period between exposure to an infection and the appearance of the first symptoms

symptom

A change in body function that is felt by a patient as a result of disease

CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a federal agency that conducts and supports health promotion, prevention and preparedness activities in the United States with the goal of improving overall public health.