What are milder alternatives to the word 'epidemic'?
In Vancouver and British Columbia, we're lucky enough to have had far fewer cases of coronavirus than most Western regions. I might describe this as a "relatively mild epidemic". However the word epidemic seems like an intense word that'd be used only for things beyond a certain level of spread or intensity (I'm curious whether this is the technical meaning, but it does feel like the colloquial/connotational one).
So, what are alternative words to use? I say 'alternatives' since they needn't be synonyms, but need only point at the same class of phenomena (ie. they could apply to the current situation).
(Broader discussion of alternative phrases - of varying levels of intensity or heaviness - that one might use about the current situation more broadly would be interesting. But I believe I should keep the core question narrowly delimited for StackExchange.)
Solution 1:
I would suggest an older English noun that could be used as an alternative is:
Outbreak
This has the advantage that because of its use in other contexts you can qualify it with adjectives that are not specific to disease. Thus, there are possibilities of extent such as:
Limited outbreak
Restricted outbreak
Extensive outbreak
Major outbreak
Minor outbreak
as well as:
Serious outbreak
Mild outbreak
Contained outbreak
with more medical connotations.
The key is perhaps to think about English rather than Greek.
Footnote: Dictionary Support
The first definition of epidemic as a noun in my iPhone Chambers dictionary (although not online) is:
- An outbreak of a disease that affects great numbers
This suggests that “mild epidemic” is something of an oxymoron, and it is worth mentioning that the word epidemic first came into English (from the French) as an adjective meaning widespread.
Outbreak, however, is qualifiable in the way I suggest: for example “limited outbreak” and “minor outbreak” are used in relation to Ebola virus in a Wikipedia article on the subject. Although only the opinions of the authors, an article “When Does an Outbreak Become an Epidemic?” on the Merriam–Webster site may be of interest.
Solution 2:
I can't see any other possibility than having recourse to rather long phrases, such a for instance the following.
- a mildly contagious spread
The term "mild epidemic" itself is currently being used: ref. 1, ref. 2, ref. 3, ref. 4.