Several terms in epidemiology have undergone significant changes:
- Pandemic: Previously, a pandemic was defined mainly by the geographical spread of a disease. Today, the definition also considers the social, economic, and healthcare impacts. - Herd Immunity: Initially used primarily in the context of vaccination, this term now includes natural immunity and its implications for long-term disease control. - Quarantine: The scope of quarantine has expanded from isolating individuals to include community-wide measures and digital tracking technologies.
