Definitions
Epidemic: The occurrence of more cases of disease than expected in a given area or among a specific group of people over a particular period of time. Among the criteria is the percentage of deaths in a given week, in this case, caused by the H1N1 Influenza (swine flu).The word “epidemic” originated from the Greek word “epidemios,” a combination of the preposition “epi” (on) with the noun “demos” (people); however, “demos” originally meant “the country.”
Outbreak: Synonymous with epidemic. This is a smaller, more localized epidemic.
Pandemic: When an epidemic that involves a new strain of an infection that spreads throughout the world. The World Health Organization defines a pandemic as its sixth and most dangerous phase in the identification of influenza. The current H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) is rated Phase 5. One of the last pandemics was the Hong Kong flu in 1968-69. It killed about 1 million people worldwide, including nearly 34,000 Americans.
Endemic: This is a disease that exists permanently in a particular region or population. For example, malaria is a regular concern in parts of Africa.
Acute febrile respiratory illness: Defined as a measured temperature 100 degrees Fahrenheit and recent onset of at least one of the following: nasal congestion, sore throat or cough.
Confirmed case: Defined as a person with an acute febrile respiratory illness with laboratory confirmed H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) infection at CDC by a viral culture test and/or a real-time RT-PCR test.
Probable case: A person with an acute febrile respiratory illness who is positive for Influenza A, but negative for H1 and H3 by an influenza RT-PCR test.
Suspected case: A person with acute febrile respiratory illness with onset symptoms
- within 7 days of close contact with a person who is a confirmed case of H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) infection, or
- within 7 days of travel to community either within the United States or internationally where there are one or more confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) infection, or
- resides in a community where there are one or more confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) infection.