epidemic

epidemic definition - medical

ep·i·dem·ic (ĕpˌĭ-dĕmˈĭk) or ep·i·dem·i·cal (-ĭ-kəl)

adjective
Spreading rapidly and extensively by infection and affecting many individuals in an area or population at the same time, as of a disease or illness.
noun
An outbreak or unusually high occurrence of a disease or illness in a population or area.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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