Office of Emergency Management

Pandemics

A pandemic is an outbreak of a disease prevalent across the country or the world. The disease can spread easily and rapidly from person to person across the county in a short period of time.

Widespread illness and/or deaths are common, and the entire healthcare system can become overwhelmed. The most vulnerable populations may include seniors, young children, and people with chronic, long-term health conditions.

The most common form of pandemic is influenza, or simply the flu. An even more serious form is COVID-19, the novel Coronavirus that spread across the world in 2019-2021.