Endemic

Present in a community at all times but in relatively low frequency.

Something that is endemic is typically restricted or peculiar to a locality or region.</P> For example, malaria is endemic in some areas of Africa.

And traffic in illicit drugs is endemic in some neighborhoods.</P> By contrast, there are the related terms 'epidemic' and 'pandemic':</P> > >An <B>epidemic</B> is a sudden severe outbreak within a region or a group, as with AIDS in Africa or AIDS in intravenous drug users.</LI></UL> > >A <B>pandemic</B> occurs when an epidemic becomes very widespread and affects a whole region, a continent, or the entire world.

</LI></UL> The word 'endemic' comes from the Greek 'en-', 'in' + 'demos', 'people or population' = 'endemos' = 'in the population.' An endemic is in the people.</P> By contrast, 'epi-' means 'upon.' An epidemic is visited upon the people.

And 'pan-' means 'all.' A pandemic affects all the people.