Epidemics, Pandemics, Syndemics: What Does This Mean Anyway?

Everyone has heard the word ‘pandemic’ by now. Whether you’re waiting in traffic or checking out the safety posters at your favorite restaurant, you’re probably going to hear or see ‘pandemic’ mentioned again.

Not all contagious viruses and diseases are called pandemics though. In the case of COVID-19, the World Health Organization didn’t raise the alarm bells until March – about three full months after the first reported case appeared in Wuhan, China. 

In this episode of Public Health Out Loud, Dr. James McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan of the Rhode Island Department of Health breakdown the meaning of all of these ‘demics’ and they touch on the health disparities being observed in our nation’s communities. 

Why did it take so long to be called a pandemic? When did it change from an epidemic to a pandemic? And now you’re hearing about endemics and syndemics? What does it all mean? This year has been full of unpleasant surprises, and if we’re not careful, 2020 can still give us another hard dose of reality.