title: History lessons.
abstract: There was a time when epidemics were solely the province of infectious diseases. Indeed, most dictionary definitions of the term refer first to contagious diseases that spread rapidly among a given population.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Metcalfe
mesh_terms: D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D058872:Epidemics / Q000266:history*; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D010930:Plague / Q000266:history