An Epidemic of a Disease

When a large number of people in the same area fall sick with the same disease at the same time, it is called an epidemic. An epidemic is not limited to germs. It refers to the rapid spread of any disease within a community or region, which can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or even non-infectious factors like pollution-related illnesses.

1. Air: Diseases like the flu and conjunctivitis (an eye infection) spread through the air. For example, if someone with the flu sneezes, the germs can float in the air, and many people can breathe them in and get sick.
2. Water: If the water from a common source is contaminated with germs, like the germs that cause cholera, many people who drink that water can get sick all at once.
3. Insects: If mosquitoes breed in large numbers in an area, many people there could get malaria from mosquito bites.

We can prevent diseases from spreading and becoming epidemics by making sure germs don’t enter our food, water, or air. Keeping the environment clean is very important to stop the spread of germs. For example:

• Avoid throwing trash in open areas.
• Make sure the water is clean before drinking.
• Cover food to prevent flies and dust from contaminating it.

Stop mosquito breeding by removing stagnant water (like puddles or water in containers) where mosquitoes can lay their eggs.

Importance of Cleanliness:

• If everyone takes care of cleanliness, the spread of germs can be reduced.
• By keeping our homes, water sources, and surroundings clean, we can prevent diseases from becoming epidemics.