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Endemic Diseases Facts & Worksheets

An Endemic is an outbreak that occurs when a disease is consistently present but limited to a specific geographic area.

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An endemic disease outbreak occurs when a disease is consistently present but limited to a specific geographic area. As a result, illness propagation and rates are predictable. Malaria, for example, is considered endemic in particular nations and regions.

See the fact file below for more information on Endemic, or you can download our 24-page Endemic worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ENDEMIC DISEASE

  • The term “endemic” means “in the population.” It derives from the Greek “endēmos,” which joins “en,” meaning “in,” and “dēmos,” meaning “people” or “populace.” “Endemic” is often used to characterize diseases generally found in a particular area.
  • An endemic disease is always present throughout a specific region or population. The disease’s prevalence has been very steady and predictable over time.
  • Endemic also refers to a species that can only be found in one global location. These animals are typically found in more isolated areas, such as islands, but they can also be found elsewhere.

COMMON ENDEMICS

Here are some cases of endemic conditions:

  • Influenza(flu) – The flu is a common endemic virus with therapeutic options and a yearly vaccine. An influenza virus causes the flu. Most people get the flu by breathing in tiny airborne droplets from someone else’s coughs or sneezes. You can also get the flu if you have contracted something contaminated with the virus and touched your mouth, nose, or eyes.
  • HIV-2 – West Africa is endemic to HIV-2. West African countries with the highest rates of HIV-2 infection are Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Senegal, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria. Each of these countries reported a prevalence of more than 1% of the national population in the late 1980s.
  • Malaria – A mosquito-borne infection that affects numerous countries throughout the world. It is, nevertheless, prevalent in areas of Africa, among other regions, because greater temperatures allow the Anopheles mosquito, which carries malaria, to thrive. It indicates that malaria levels in this region stay stable.
  • Measles – It is endemic in many nations worldwide, but it is widespread in Nigeria, India, and Liberia. Measles is frequently associated with lung infection (pneumonia). People with compromised immune systems are more likely to acquire a severe type of pneumonia, sometimes resulting in death.
  • Cholera – Found in around 50 countries, mainly in Africa and South and Southeast Asia. Cholera is a severe diarrheal sickness caused by a Vibrio cholerae bacterial intestine infection. People can become ill if they consume cholera-contaminated food or water. The disease is frequently minor or without symptoms, although it can occasionally be severe and life-threatening.
  • Tuberculosis – Certain parts of the world are endemic to tuberculosis, including Africa, Russia, Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. These are the places where the disease is most likely to spread. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB). TB germs often attack the lungs but can attack any body region, including the kidney, spine, and brain. Not everyone infected with tuberculosis becomes ill.
  • Coccidioidomycosis – Often known as valley fever, is caused by inhaling fungal spores. It is only found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
  • Dengue fever – Native to tropical and subtropical regions because, like malaria, it is transmitted through mosquito bites. The Aedes mosquito transmits dengue fever viruses.
  • Hepatitis B – The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is found worldwide, while it is more prevalent in Africa and Asia than in Europe and North America. HBV spreads by contact with virus-infected blood. As a result, unlike airborne viruses, it does not create unexpected outbreaks.

OUTBREAK, ENDEMIC, EPIDEMIC, AND PANDEMIC

Epidemic Vs. Pandemic

  • A simple method to tell the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic is to recall the “P” in Pandemic, which indicates that a pandemic has a passport. An epidemic that spreads is referred to as a pandemic.

Epidemic Vs. Endemic

  • An epidemic is actively growing; new sickness cases far outnumber those expected.
  • The term epidemic refers to any out-of-control problem, such as the “opioid pandemic.”
  • An epidemic is frequently restricted to a region, but the number of sick people in that location is far higher than typical. COVID-19, for example, was an epidemic when it was restricted to Wuhan, China.
  • Endemic, on the other hand, is a permanent presence in a given region. Malaria is found in portions of Africa, while ice is found in Antarctica.

Endemic Vs. Outbreak

  • An endemic can cause an outbreak, which can occur anywhere. One case in point is the Dengue disease outbreak in Hawaii.
  • Dengue fever is found in Africa, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Mosquitoes in these locations spread dengue illness from person to person.
  • In 2019, there was a dengue fever outbreak in Hawaii, although the disease is not endemic. They suspected an infected person had visited the Big Island and been bitten by mosquitoes. The insects subsequently spread the sickness to other people they bit, resulting in an outbreak.

CAUSE OF DISEASE OUTBREAKS

  • Several aspects contribute to the spread of infectious illnesses. Contraction can occur due to transmission from people, animals, or the environment. For instance:
    • Weather conditions – For example, whooping cough appears in the spring, whereas measles appears in the winter.
    • Chemical or radioactive substance exposure – Minamata is a disease caused by mercury exposure.
    • The social consequences of calamities – Such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and droughts, can result in widespread disease transmission.
    • Various environmental factors – including water supply, food, air quality, and sanitary facilities, can accelerate the development of infectious diseases.
  • The cause of a disease may also be unknown. Several factors may cause these illnesses, including: 
    • A new or newly modified pathogen
    • Toxins found in nature
    • Chemical leaks that go undetected
    • Overexposure to unknown ionizing radiation

DISEASE PREVENTION HABITS

Because many infectious diseases can only be treated rather than cured, resources for protection, prevention, and treatment are crucial in containing an outbreak. Below are some habits that help prevent diseases from spreading.

  • Safely handle and prepare food
  • Wash Your Hands Frequently
  • Clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces
  • Cough and sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue.
  • Do Not Share Personal Things.
  • Obtain Vaccination
  • Do Not Touch Wild Animals
  • When Sick, Stay at Home

Endemic Disease Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Endemics across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about Endemics, which is an outbreak that occurs when a disease is consistently present but limited to a specific geographic area.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Endemic Facts
  2. Word Search
  3. Fill in the Blank
  4. Endemic, Epidemic, Pandemic
  5. Virus Spreading
  6. Word Game
  7. News Flash!
  8. COVID-19 in Endemic Phase
  9. Endemics
  10. HIV-2
  11. Make It!

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Link will appear as Endemic Diseases Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 20, 2022

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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