Which of the following is an example of a pandemic?

Which of the following is an example of a pandemic?

• A. Ebola outbreak in West Africa
• B. COVID-19
• C. Zika outbreak limited to a small region
• D. SARS outbreak in 2003

Answer: (B)

A pandemic is a disease outbreak that spreads across a wide geographic area, crosses international borders, and involves sustained transmission in many places. COVID-19 fits this because it spread rapidly around the world, with ongoing community transmission in numerous countries for an extended period, becoming a global crisis. Ebola in West Africa remained regional, affecting multiple countries but contained within a specific area. The Zika outbreak was similarly limited to certain regions rather than spreading broadly worldwide. The SARS outbreak in 2003 did affect many countries but was eventually contained and did not maintain widespread, sustained transmission across a large number of regions.

A pandemic is a disease outbreak that spreads across a wide geographic area, crosses international borders, and involves sustained transmission in many places. COVID-19 fits this because it spread rapidly around the world, with ongoing community transmission in numerous countries for an extended period, becoming a global crisis.

Ebola in West Africa remained regional, affecting multiple countries but contained within a specific area. The Zika outbreak was similarly limited to certain regions rather than spreading broadly worldwide. The SARS outbreak in 2003 did affect many countries but was eventually contained and did not maintain widespread, sustained transmission across a large number of regions.