A pandemic is a disease that infects large amounts of human populations spreading across a vast region, continents or worldwide. New diseases can dramatically inhibit a community’s ability to provide health care, hospital availability and other critical services.
In 2020, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) became a global pandemic. To stay healthy, follow public health guidelines that include physical distancing from others, frequent hand washing and wearing a mask that covers your nose and mouth. Updated information in multiple languages is available at COVID-19.
Past examples of pandemics include tuberculosis, influenza, hepatitis, smallpox, malaria, E. coli, typhus, cholera, HIV and H1N1.
The best defense against future pandemics is to maintain good personal hygiene including frequent hand washing and disinfecting shared spaced.