India is endemic to many diseases such as Malaria, Kala-azar, Cholera, Tuberculosis. These erupt in epidemic form when conditions are favorable for their spread. Epidemics are disasters by themselves but these can emerge in the aftermath of other disasters as well.
Epidemics affect large number of persons in a community when favourable conditions are present for the spread of an epidemic. If one understands the basic principles of epidemiology, these epidemics can be prevented by adopting certain safety measures.
Epidemics usually affect large number of individuals and can lead to complications including disabilities and death. There is always a possibility of existence of sufficient number of disease carriers who may favor the resurgence and spread of disease. On seeing the suffering and deaths especially within close relatives, psychological effects are also common during epidemics.
Epidemics generally follow a pattern depending on the geographical and environmental conditions, the distribution and characteristics of the host population, and their cultural behavior. If there is no intervention or change in these conditions, those epidemics tend to repeat themselves.
Epidemics of water and food borne diseases are common and occur from time to time. Measles and influenza are other diseases that generally show marked seasonal and annual variations in incidence. Even non-communicable diseases like cancer, goiter, blindness, heart diseases, and mental sickness are also acquiring epidemic proportions.