Pandemic’s glossary: The ABC of coronavirus concepts

Currently, the world is facing the pandemic generated by SARS-CoV-2. There are no no pharmacological measures for the prevention or treatment of this infection and, so far, it has caused more than 4`880.000 confirmed cases and 322.000 deaths. The different strategies for the control of the disease that have been proposed involve the participation of different actors. Such participation, guided by legal guidelines based on public health measures, include containment, mitigation, physical isolation, and quarantine. As this is a population-based problem, information plays a primary role; however, the many new terms hat have arisen and their misuse confuse and, therefore, misinform thus limiting citizen participation. For this reason, we conducted a review of the terms used in epidemics and pandemics of infectious diseases, particularly COVID-19. We considered and differentiated the relevant terms to facilitate the understanding of pathogen’s behavior and epidemic and pandemic cycles, as well as the criteria for public health decision-making for the general public. This glossary should facilitate the use of the terms and standardize the information.