The World Health Organization says the novel coronavirus is officially a pandemic.
Twelve people in Indiana have tested positive for the virus. So far, 73 Hoosiers have been tested.
Ana Bento is a professor at Indiana University’s School of Public Health and Biology. She says it’s important for people to understand the difference between a pandemic and epidemic.
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“As soon as a pandemic is declared, it has a bigger burden in terms of seeking help and then how hospitals will be able to respond," she says.
An epidemic is a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease. An epidemic qualifies as a pandemic once it spreads across continents.
Bento says understanding the difference helps prevent panic and helps people know when to seek help or medical treatment.
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