human
I need to know more about pandemics like the Corona Virus. What are the different stages of an epidemic?
assistant
The stages of an epidemic are:
1. Prodromal stage: This is the initial stage of an outbreak when symptoms are first observed but the cause is unknown.
2. Exponential or Accelerating stage: This is the period during which new cases of the disease increase rapidly, often doubling in a short amount of time.
3. Peak stage: During this stage, the highest number of new cases of the disease are reported.
4. Declining stage: During this stage, the number of new cases begins to decrease, as the epidemic has run its course.
5. Residual stage: This is the final stage of an epidemic when only a few scattered cases of the disease remain.