pandemic: Quick Facts

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Disinfection workers in full protective suits and masks spray antiseptic solution on the stairs of a subway station in Seoul, South Korea, as masked commuters walk by.

Historical map of Europe showing the spread of the Black Death during the second pandemic from 1347 to 1351. The map uses color-coded regions to indicate the approximate year the plague first reached different areas, with arrows marking the spread along major marine and land routes, and major cities labeled. Areas relatively unaffected are shown in gray.

Epidemic vs. pandemic: What's the difference?

The devastating history of pandemics

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Topics

Is It Safe to Reopen Schools During the COVID-19 Pandemic?Influenza Pandemic of 1918–19 Chart How Did the COVID-19 Pandemic Start?What Is a Second Wave of a Pandemic, and Could It Happen for COVID-19?How Long Did the Flu Pandemic of 1918 Last?When Was the Last Pandemic?U.S. Death Toll During Major Events Who Can Declare a Pandemic and What Criteria Are Required for an Outbreak to Be Called a Pandemic?Force majeure science famine natural disaster complex humanitarian emergency 7 Accidents and Disasters in Spaceflight History Remembering the September 11 Attacks Through Photographs The Great Molasses Flood and 6 Other Strange Disasters 10 Major Epidemics Today in History—October 8: The Day Chicago Burned The Perils of Industry: 10 Notable Accidents and Catastrophes Nuclear Exclusion Zones

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Warm water fuels Hurricane Katrina. This image depicts a 3-day average of actual dea surface temperatures for the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, from August 25-27, 2005.

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