The Mississippi Department of Health reports around 60 new cases of the coronavirus across the state each day, one of the lowest averages since the start of the pandemic. But the disease is not gone and experts say there is a chance transmission could rise again. Dr. Rambod Rouhbakhsh with Forest General Hospital and the Hattiesburg Clinic says there are three major types of disease transmission; a pandemic, an epidemic, and an endemic.
“An epidemic is an unexpected rise in cases in a geographic region. A pandemic refers to an unexpected rise of cases in multiple regions,” says Dr. Rouhbakhsh. “Endemic refers to a disease that is constant, or predictable, or expected in a given geographic location.”
Although the international pandemic may end, health officials in Mississippi will continue to monitor the transmission of the disease within the state to identify possible epidemics. Dr. Rouhbakhsh says residents should also consider the risk of transmission when deciding to wear a mask in public or not.
“So have high-quality masks on hand, have some home covid tests available sooner rather than later before they start going into short supply. Get vaccinated and boosted when you’re eligible. Get a pulse oximeter available should you get sick. And make a plan to get antiviral drug treatment.”
The Department of Health has detailed data on its website to track coronavirus transmission on a county-by-county level.
