This could be the beginning of an influenza pandemic.
He is working to stop the next global pandemic before it starts.
The pandemic has spread throughout the world's oceans with devastating effects on these docile sea-dwelling reptiles.
The death toll would climb much higher in the event of a new global pandemic or bioterror attack.
This was certainly true of the plan drawn up over the past few years to combat an influenza pandemic.
What does a pandemic have to do with economic recovery? So far, the prospect of worldwide swine flu is causing market panics.
Top virologists have been appearing in Washington in recent weeks to sound the alarm about pandemic flu.
As part of the deal, the companies will form joint teams to oversee manufacturing and pandemic planning.
At the moment, the world's pandemic-alert system is distressingly secretive.
Health officials have warned that it could spark a pandemic, infecting millions of people.
British Dictionary definitions for pandemic
pandemic
/pænˈdɛmɪk/
adjective
1.
(of a disease) affecting persons over a wide geographical area; extensively epidemic
noun
2.
a pandemic disease
Word Origin
C17: from Late Latin pandēmus, from Greek pandēmos general, from pan- + demos the people
Word Origin and History for pandemic
adj.
1660s, from Late Latin pandemus, from Greek pandemos "pertaining to all people; public, common," from pan- "all" (see pan-) + demos "people" (see demotic). Modeled on epidemic. The noun is first recorded 1853, from the adjective.
pandemic in Medicine
pandemic pan·dem·ic (pān-děm'ĭk) adj. Epidemic over a wide geographic area. n. A pandemic disease.
pandemic in Science
pandemic
(pān-děm'ĭk) An epidemic that spreads over a very wide area, such as an entire country or continent.
pandemic in Culture
pandemic definition
A widespread epidemic affecting a large part of the population.