Which term describes an epidemic that has spread across continents?

The term that describes an epidemic that has spread across continents is "pandemic." A pandemic refers to a substantial outbreak of a disease that affects a large number of people across multiple countries or continents. This widespread nature often indicates that the disease is not confined to one geographic area but is present in multiple locations, thereby significantly impacting global public health.

Pandemics often arise when a new infectious disease emerges to which the population has little or no immunity, allowing it to spread easily from person to person. Examples include the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected countries worldwide, and the 1918 influenza pandemic that had similar global repercussions.

In contrast, an outbreak typically refers to a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease in a localized area, which can be contained within one community or region. Hyperendemic describes a continuously high level of disease occurrence, while endemic refers to the constant presence and/or usual prevalence of a disease within a geographic area. Both of these terms deal with disease occurrences that are limited to specific regions rather than the widespread nature of a pandemic.