Question : EPIDEMICS



(a) the criteria fixed by the Government for declaration of a disease as an epidemic;and

(b) the names and the extent of the diseases which spread in the country and were declared epidemic during the last two years?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a) An epidemic is occurrence in community or region of cases of an illness, specific health related behaviour or other health related events in excess of normal expectancy.

(b) During the last two years, Pandemic Influenza A H1N1( swine flu) is the only disease that has been declared as a Pandemic [an epidemic occurring over a very wide area affecting a large proportion of population] and spread across the country.