coordinate IM with specific disease / epidemiol (IM) & specify geographic location if pertinent; differentiate from DISEASE OUTBREAKS, follow terminology in text

Sudden outbreaks of a disease in a country or region not previously recognized in that area, or a rapid increase in the number of new cases of a previous existing endemic disease. Epidemics can also refer to outbreaks of disease in animal or plant populations.

2011; use DISEASE OUTBREAKS 1968-2010