Epídmía

Epídmía is the term used in Greek to denote an epidemic, a widespread occurrence of a disease across a population over a particular period. In public health, an epidemic refers to a higher-than-expected number of cases in a community or region, surpassing seasonal baselines or historical norms. The concept is used to distinguish regular, endemic levels from unusual surges that require investigation and response.

Etymology and usage: The word epídmía derives from the Greek ἐπιδημία (epidēmía), formed from epi- ‘upon’ and demos ‘people.’ In English and other languages, the term epidemic is ultimately derived from the same roots, and the Greek form is sometimes encountered in historical or academic contexts.

Distinctions and metrics: An outbreak is often a localized, smaller event, an epidemic is a larger-scale event, and a pandemic refers to a global spread. Public health surveillance uses incidence rates, baseline expectations, case definitions, and metrics such as the reproduction number (R0) to assess whether a situation constitutes an epidemic.

Historical context and modern relevance: Classical writers described epidemics, and the term has been used in medical literature since antiquity and through medieval Latin into modern languages. Today Epídmía frames discussions of surveillance, response planning, vaccination campaigns, and non-pharmaceutical interventions in outbreak settings.

See also: Epidemiology, Pandemic, Outbreak