Which term describes the spread of disease across national boundaries and around the world?

• A. Pandemic
• B. Epidemic
• C. Outbreak
• D. Endemic

Answer: (A)

A pandemic is when a disease spreads across national boundaries and around the world. This describes a global reach with sustained transmission in many countries, not just a single region. An epidemic refers to a sharp increase in cases in a particular area or population, which could be a city or country but doesn’t imply worldwide spread. An outbreak is a localized surge in cases, often within a specific setting like a community or institution. An endemic condition is one that is consistently present in a population or area at a baseline level. Because the question specifies spread across multiple countries and worldwide transmission, the term that fits best is pandemic.