Which one of the following is not an epidemic disease?

An epidemic is defined as a sudden, unexpected increase in disease cases above the normal baseline in a specific area [1]. Cholera, Smallpox, and Malaria are explicitly classified as epidemic diseases because they can cause rapid, severe outbreaks [4]. While Malaria is often endemic in certain regions, it frequently reaches epidemic proportions when incidence rises sharply [4]. In contrast, Elephantiasis (Lymphatic Filariasis) is typically classified as a chronic, endemic disease rather than an epidemic one. It is caused by filarial worms transmitted by mosquitoes [3]. Unlike the rapid onset and spread characteristic of epidemics like Cholera or Smallpox [1], Elephantiasis is a long-term condition that persists at a steady, predictable level in specific tropical populations without the sudden, explosive spikes in case numbers that define an epidemic event [5].

Sources

1. [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 17: Contemporary Issues > Epidemics > p. 36
2. [2] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Causes of Epidemics > p. 78
3. [4] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Cholera > p. 80
4. [3] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 17: Contemporary Issues > Transmission > p. 25
5. [5] https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/csels/dsepd/ss1978/lesson1/section11.html