also: やくびょう
Refers to a widespread infectious disease outbreak. Can be used historically or in modern contexts, though 感染症 or パンデミック are more common in technical settings.
In medieval Europe, epidemics broke out many times.
It is said that the village was wiped out by a plague.
An epidemic spread through the village and many people died.
He caught the plague and lost his life.
Maintaining hygiene is important to prevent epidemics.
An epidemic broke out amid the postwar chaos.