pandemic
A pandemic is an outbreak of an infectious disease that occurs over a large geographical area and affects a significant proportion of the population. Unlike an epidemic, which is localized to a community or region, a pandemic spreads across countries and continents. It occurs when a new pathogen, such as a virus, emerges and is easily transmissible between people. Examples include the COVID-19 pandemic and the H1N1 influenza pandemic. Public health measures, like vaccination, social distancing, and hygiene practices, are essential to control and mitigate the spread during a pandemic.
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The 2009 pandemic, also known as the H1N1 influenza virus or swine flu, was a global outbreak that began in April 2009. It originated from a new strain of the H1N1 virus that combined genes from swine, bird, and human flu viruses. The virus spread quickly, leading to widespread illness, although most cases were mild. Governments and health organizations implemented vaccination campaigns and public health measures to control its spread. The World Health Organization declared it a pandemic in June 2009, and it ultimately subsided by August 2010, with millions of cases reported worldwide.