An epidemic or plague—a disease that spreads rapidly across a wide area or affects many people (infectious outbreak).
古代には疫病で多くの人が命を落とした。
In ancient times, many people died from plagues.
新型ウイルスの出現で疫病対策が急務になった。
With the emergence of a new virus, epidemic countermeasures became urgent.
ワクチン接種は疫病の拡大を抑える有効な手段だ。
Vaccination is an effective measure to curb the spread of an epidemic.