An epidemic that occurs in several geographic regions. (Note that a disease need not have a high death rate to cause a pandemic.)
Glossary of Terms
Common terms that you may encounter on the site.
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Pandemic
Passive immunization
A form of temporary immunity, created by giving a person disease-specific antibodies.
Pathogen
An agent, such as a bacterium, virus, worm, or fungus, that causes disease.
Plasma (in blood)
The protein-containing fluid part of blood. Red blood cells and other materials are suspended in plasma.
Polysaccharide vaccine
A vaccine in which the immunogenic particles come from the carbohydrate-containing outer coatings of encapsulated bacteria.