scholarly journals A Review of Asymptomatic and Subclinical Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infections

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Grant ◽  
Mamunur Rahman Malik ◽  
Amgad Elkholy ◽  
Maria D Van Kerkhove

Abstract The epidemiology of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) since 2012 has been largely characterized by recurrent zoonotic spillover from dromedary camels followed by limited human-to-human transmission, predominantly in health-care settings. The full extent of infection of MERS-CoV is not clear, nor is the extent and/or role of asymptomatic infections in transmission. We conducted a review of molecular and serological investigations through PubMed and EMBASE from September 2012 to November 15, 2018, to measure subclinical or asymptomatic MERS-CoV infection within and outside of health-care settings. We performed retrospective analysis of laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV infections reported to the World Health Organization to November 27, 2018, to summarize what is known about asymptomatic infections identified through national surveillance systems. We identified 23 studies reporting evidence of MERS-CoV infection outside of health-care settings, mainly of camel workers, with seroprevalence ranges of 0%–67% depending on the study location. We identified 20 studies in health-care settings of health-care worker (HCW) and family contacts, of which 11 documented molecular evidence of MERS-CoV infection among asymptomatic contacts. Since 2012, 298 laboratory-confirmed cases were reported as asymptomatic to the World Health Organization, 164 of whom were HCWs. The potential to transmit MERS-CoV to others has been demonstrated in viral-shedding studies of asymptomatic MERS infections. Our results highlight the possibility for onward transmission of MERS-CoV from asymptomatic individuals. Screening of HCW contacts of patients with confirmed MERS-CoV is currently recommended, but systematic screening of non-HCW contacts outside of health-care facilities should be encouraged.

1970 ◽  
pp. 14-17
Author(s):  
Randa Abul-Husn

The first case of AIDS was reported in Lebanon in 1988. As of July 1994, 2,402 cases of AIDS, 398 ARC (AIDS Related Complex), and 8,423 HN positive cases were reported in the region of the Middle East. The disease is heavily underreported and under-estimated, according to the National AIDS Control Programme in Lebanon. The NACP was established in 1989 by the World Health Organization and the Lebanese Ministry of Health.


1993 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-89
Author(s):  
Graham S. Pearson

The Article in the August, 1992 issue of Politics and the Life Sciences by Erhard Geissler proposing the establishment of an international Vaccines for Peace (VFP) program to undertake research on and production of vaccines against pathogens (and possible toxins) that pose natural health threats is warmly welcomed. VFP is designed to contribute to health care in developing countries and to enhance international cooperation in biotechnology; it would be administered by the World Health Organization (WHO). Such a program would bring real and tangible benefits to developing countries and encourage participation by such countries in the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention signed in 1972.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hashaam Akhtar ◽  
Maham Afridi ◽  
Samar Akhtar ◽  
Hamaad Ahmad ◽  
Sabahat Ali ◽  
...  

UNSTRUCTURED The COVID-19 outbreak started as pneumonia in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The subsequent pandemic was declared as the sixth public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020, by the World Health Organization. Pakistan could be a potential hotspot for COVID-19 owing to its high population of 204.65 million and its struggling health care and economic systems. Pakistan was able to tackle the challenge with relatively mild repercussions. The present analysis has been conducted to highlight the situation of the disease in Pakistan in 2020 and the measures taken by various stakeholders coupled with support from the community to abate the risk of catastrophic spread of the virus.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Novie H. Rampengan

Abstract: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a respiratory disease caused by Corona virus (MERS-CoV). This virus was first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. World Health Organization (WHO) reported that until June 2015 there were 26 countries infected by MERS-CoV with a total of 1,334 laboratory confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection and 471 deaths. According to WHO as many as 75% of MERS-CoV cases are secondary cases, obtained from other infected people. In mid 2015 it is reported that MERS-CoV attacked South Korea with 172 confirmed cases of MERS-CoV and 27 deaths. There are no approved antiviral agents for the treatment of MERS-CoV infection or vaccine available for the prevention of MERS-CoV. MERS cases are treated with supportive therapy such as hydration, antipyretics, analgesics, respiratory support, and antibiotics in case of secondary infectionKeywords: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Corona virus, treatmentAbstrak: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) merupakan penyakit saluran napas yang disebabkan oleh Corona virus (MERS-CoV). Virus ini pertama kali dilaporkan pada tahun 2012 di Arab Saudi. WHO melaporkan bahwa sampai Juni 2015 terdapat 26 negara terinfeksi MERS-CoV dengan total 1.334 kasus yang dikonfirmasi laboratorium terinfeksi MERS-CoV dan 471 kematian. Menurut WHO sebanyak 75% dari kasus MERS-CoV merupakan kasus sekunder, yaitu diperoleh dari orang lain yang terinfeksi. Pada pertengahan tahun 2015 dilaporkan MERS-CoV menyerang Korea Selatan dengan 172 kasus yang dikonfirmasi laboratorium terinfeksi MERS-CoV dan 27 kematian. Belum ada antivirus yang disetujui untuk pengobatan infeksi MERS-CoV atau vaksin yang tersedia untuk pencegahan MERS-CoV. Penanganan MERS-CoV dengan terapi suportif berupa hidrasi, antipiretik, analgetik, bantuan pernapasan, dan antibiotik bila terjadi infeksi sekunder.Kata kunci: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Corona virus, penanganan


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
Pina Sodano Omizzolo

In mid-December 2019, several atypical cases of pneumonia were detected in hospitals in Wuhan City – Hubei Province – in Inner China. It turns out that the first patients had already fallen ill in early December or even mid-November. However, only on the last day of the year 2019, Chinese doctors were able to officially identify a new virus in a 41-year-old patient admitted 5 days earlier. The virus belongs to the class of “coronavirus”, the same to which the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) viruses belong. It is initially baptized 2019-nCov, or “new 2019 coronavirus”. In February, the official name assigned to the virus is Sars-COV-2 and the associated disease is named COVID-19. The outbreak took on considerable proportions in China and then spread to the rest of the world, leading the World Health Organization to declare the infection a “pandemic” on 11 March 2020. The containment strategies applied in the most affected countries have proved to be very different in effectiveness, to the point that the lethality of the virus appears very different from country to country. This difference in impact has led to different legal, economic and social consequences.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 260-262
Author(s):  
Saikou Omar Sillah ◽  
Xu Yihua

On 31st December 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) was notified of a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause detected in the Wuhan, Hubei Province of China which eventually was named to be the Corona virus disease. In response to the rapid spread of the virus, WHO declared it a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on 30th January, 2020. As per the quest to recharge the COVID-19 response power, there is seemingly little or no tangible plans to help permanently reorient Africa’s health care system. In the wake of widespread vaccine nationalism, donor countries continue to secure large quantities of vaccines from developers and manufacturers, causing global disparity in access to COVID-19 vaccines.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. xlix-l
Author(s):  
Shehzad Ali

One of the major themes of the book is to recognize the seriousness of the situation and its possible outcomes. Žižek informs us that the only possible way to face the challenge is to realize that world leaders should unite and develop a global health care system presided over by the World Health organization. As it is obvious that almost every crisis creates opportunities of some kind Žižek seems to argue that in the current disaster there is potential for communism (though not the one of 20th century type but the one) based on human cooperation. As he says: “it should be a disaster communism as an antidote to the disaster capitalism.”


1987 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 125
Author(s):  
Max H. Schoen ◽  
Harald A. Arnljot ◽  
David E. Barmes ◽  
Lois K. Cohen ◽  
Peter B. V. Hunter ◽  
...  

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