What is the definition of the word endemic?

Information

Endemic means a disease occurs frequently and at a predictable rate in a specific location or population. For example, chicken pox occurs at a high and predictable rate among American school children.

Review Date: 02/13/2011

David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.