Global outbreak has Democrat fleeing in terror (5)

I believe the answer is:

panic

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'terror' is the definition.
(synonyms)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for panic that I've seen before include "displaying great fear" , "Have kittens" , "Horror" , "Lose the head, yield to fear" , "Mass fear" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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