Disease distribution can manifest in several patterns:
1. Endemic: A disease that is consistently present in a specific geographical area or population. For instance, cholera remains endemic in parts of South Asia.
2. Epidemic: When the number of disease cases exceeds the expected number in a community or region. An example is the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.
3. Pandemic: An epidemic that spreads across countries and continents, affecting a large number of people. The most recent example is the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. Sporadic: Diseases that occur infrequently and irregularly, such as tetanus, which can appear in isolated instances.
