scholarly journals Readiness and early response to COVID-19: achievements, challenges and lessons learnt in Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. e005581
Author(s):  
Betty Lanyero ◽  
Zewdu Assefa Edea ◽  
Emmanuel Onuche Musa ◽  
Shambel Habebe Watare ◽  
Mayur Lalji Mandalia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
International Health ◽  
Early Response ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Coordination Mechanism ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
Lessons Learnt ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
High Level

Declaration of the novel coronavirus disease as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern necessitated countries to get ready to respond. Here, we describe key achievements, challenges and lessons learnt during the readiness and early response to COVID-19 in Ethiopia. Readiness activities commenced as early as January 2020 with the activation of a national Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and COVID-19 Incident Management System (IMS) by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute. The COVID-19 IMS conducted rapid risk assessments, developed scenario-based contingency plans, national COVID-19 guidelines and facilitated the enhancement of early warning and monitoring mechanisms. Early activation of a coordination mechanism and strengthening of detection and response capacities contributed to getting the country ready on time and mounting an effective early response. High-level political leadership and commitment led to focused efforts in coordination of response interventions. Health screening, mandatory 14-day quarantine and testing established for all international travellers arriving into the country slowed down the influx of travellers. The International Health Regulations (IHR) capacities in the country served as a good foundation for timely readiness and response. Leveraging on existing IHR capacities in the country built prior to COVID-19 helped slow down the importation and mitigated uncontrolled spread of the disease in the country. Challenges experienced included late operationalisation of a multisectoral coordination platform, shortage of personal protective equipment resulting from global disruption of importation and the huge influx of over 10 000 returnees from different COVID-19-affected countries over a short period of time with resultant constrain on response resources.

scholarly journals The COVID-19 variants: an overview

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 5148
Author(s):  
Anuj K. Pandey ◽  
Sidharth S. Mishra ◽  
Yogesh Wadgave ◽  
Nidhi Mudgil ◽  
Sonal Gawande ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
International Health ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
International Health Regulations ◽  
Wuhan City ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Health Regulations

The outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was initially noticed in a seafood market in Wuhan city in Hubei Province of China in mid-December 2019 which has now spread to 223 countries/territories/areas worldwide. World Health Organization (WHO) under International Health Regulations (IHR) has declared this outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on 30th January 2020 subsequently declared a pandemic on 11th March 2020.

Facts and Myths: Efficacies of Repurposing Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine for the Treatment of COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (16) ◽  
pp. 1703-1721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Alim Al-Bari
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
International Health ◽  
Drug Repurposing ◽  
Transmission Efficiency ◽  
Rapid Diagnosis ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Potential Efficacy ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The 2019-nCoV first broke out in Wuhan and subsequently spread worldwide owing to its extreme transmission efficiency. The fact that the COVID-19 cases and mortalities are reported globally and the WHO has declared this outbreak as the pandemic, the international health authorities have focused on rapid diagnosis and isolation of patients as well as search for therapies able to counter the disease severity. Due to the lack of known specific, effective and proven therapies as well as the situation of public-health emergency, drug repurposing appears to be the best armour to find a therapeutic solution against 2019-nCoV infection. Repurposing anti-malarial drugs and chloroquine (CQ)/ hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) have shown efficacy to inhibit most coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-1 coronavirus. These CQ analogues have shown potential efficacy to inhibit 2019-nCoV in vitro that leads to focus several future clinical trials. This review discusses the possible effective roles and mechanisms of CQ analogues for interfering with the 2019-nCoV replication cycle and infection.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic: A Global Disaster

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-8
Author(s):  
Solomon Arigwe Joseph ◽  
Abuhuraira Ado Musa ◽  
Faisal Muhammad ◽  
Tijjani Muhammad Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Viral Disease ◽  
Hubei Province ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

People began to become ill in late December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and the illness was revealed to be a kind of pneumonia with unusual signs and symptoms. It was eventually discovered as a novel coronavirus, a virus that causes widespread sickness in animals and birds. World Health Organization (WHO) named this new viral disease coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in January 2020.

COVID 19 and its management

2021 ◽  
pp. 117-121
Author(s):  
Subhashis Debnath ◽  
Runa Chakravorty ◽  
Donita Devi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽  
Respiratory Distress ◽  
Distress Syndrome ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

In December 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2, a novel coronavirus, initiated an outbreak of pneumonia from Wuhan in China, which rapidly spread worldwide. The outbreak was declared as “a public health emergency of international concern” by the WHO on January 30, 2020, and as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The disease is transmitted by inhalation or contact with infected droplets and the incubation period ranges from 2 to 14 d. The symptoms are usually fever, cough, sore throat, breathlessness, fatigue, malaise among others. The disease is mild in most people; in some (usually the elderly and those with comorbidities), it may progress to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multi organ dysfunction. Many people are asymptomatic. The virus spreads faster than its two ancestors the SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), but has lower fatality.

scholarly journals An analysis of International Health Regulations Emergency Committees and Public Health Emergency of International Concern Designations

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. e002502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Mullen ◽  
Christina Potter ◽  
Lawrence O Gostin ◽  
Anita Cicero ◽  
Jennifer B Nuzzo
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
International Health ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Director General ◽  
International Health Regulations ◽  
International Response ◽  
Health Regulations

IntroductionNine events have been assessed for potential declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). A PHEIC is defined as an extraordinary event that constitutes a public health risk to other states through international spread and requires a coordinated international response. The WHO Director-General convenes Emergency Committees (ECs) to provide their advice on whether an event constitutes a PHEIC. The EC rationales have been criticised for being non-transparent and contradictory to the International Health Regulations (IHR). This first comprehensive analysis of EC rationale provides recommendations to increase clarity of EC decisions which will strengthen the IHR and WHO’s legitimacy in future outbreaks.Methods66 EC statements were reviewed from nine public health outbreaks of influenza A, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, polio, Ebola virus disease, Zika, yellow fever and coronavirus disease-2019. Statements were analysed to determine which of the three IHR criteria were noted as contributing towards the EC’s justification on whether to declare a PHEIC and what language was used to explain the decision.ResultsInterpretation of the criteria were often vague and applied inconsistently. ECs often failed to describe and justify which criteria had been satisfied.DiscussionGuidelines must be developed for the standardised interpretation of IHR core criteria. The ECs must clearly identify and justify which criteria have contributed to their rationale for or against PHEIC declaration.ConclusionStriving for more consistency and transparency in EC justifications would benefit future deliberations and provide more understanding and support for the process.

scholarly journals Nanobiosensors for the Detection of Novel Coronavirus 2019-nCoV and Other Pandemic/Epidemic Respiratory Viruses: A Review

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (22) ◽  
pp. 6591
Author(s):  
Badriyah Alhalaili ◽  
Ileana Nicoleta Popescu ◽  
Olfa Kamoun ◽  
Feras Alzubi ◽  
Sami Alawadhia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Respiratory Viruses ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Origin And Evolution ◽  
The World ◽  
Human Coronaviruses ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Made In

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is considered a public health emergency of international concern. The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that caused this pandemic has spread rapidly to over 200 countries, and has drastically affected public health and the economies of states at unprecedented levels. In this context, efforts around the world are focusing on solving this problem in several directions of research, by: (i) exploring the origin and evolution of the phylogeny of the SARS-CoV-2 viral genome; (ii) developing nanobiosensors that could be highly effective in detecting the new coronavirus; (iii) finding effective treatments for COVID-19; and (iv) working on vaccine development. In this paper, an overview of the progress made in the development of nanobiosensors for the detection of human coronaviruses (SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is presented, along with specific techniques for modifying the surface of nanobiosensors. The newest detection methods of the influenza virus responsible for acute respiratory syndrome were compared with conventional methods, highlighting the newest trends in diagnostics, applications, and challenges of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 causative virus) nanobiosensors.

scholarly journals The world health organization: The (un)attainable ideal?

2021 ◽  
Vol 60 (91) ◽  
pp. 271-286
Author(s):  
Jovana Blešić
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
International Health ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
Director General ◽  
International Health Regulations ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Health Regulations

The World Health Organization (WHO) is one of the UN specialized agencies. Its work and functions gained even more importance in 2020 with the emergence of the corona virus. The eyes of the entire international community focused on this organization and its Director General. Nowadays, its efficiency has been subject to various forms of criticism. In this paper, the author first provides a brief overview of this organization and its significance. The central part of the paper focuses on the activities of the WHO during the Covid-19 pandemic, through the clarification of the concept of public health emergency of international concern and the use of International Health Regulations. Finally, the author discusses the possible reform of this body. The aim of this paper is to familiarize the readers with the World Health Organization and put its activities in the context of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals An interim review of the epidemiological characteristics of 2019 novel coronavirus

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. e2020006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukhyun Ryu ◽  
Byung Chul Chun
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics

OBJECTIVES: The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from Wuhan, China is currently recognized as a public health emergency of global concern.METHODS: We reviewed the currently available literature to provide up-to-date guidance on control measures to be implemented by public health authorities.RESULTS: Some of the epidemiological characteristics of 2019-nCoV have been identified. However, there remain considerable uncertainties, which should be considered when providing guidance to public health authorities on control measures.CONCLUSIONS: Additional studies incorporating more detailed information from confirmed cases would be valuable.

scholarly journals Early surveillance and public health emergency disposal measures between novel coronavirus disease 2019 and avian influenza in China: a case-comparison study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiantian Zhang ◽  
Wenming Shi ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
Ge Bai ◽  
Ruiming Dai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Comparison Study ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Case Comparison ◽  
The Government ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
And Control

AbstractBackgroundThe novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is spreading rapidly throughout China and the world. Hence, early surveillance and public health emergency disposal are considered crucial to curb this emerging infectious disease. However, studies that investigated the early surveillance and public health emergency disposal for the prevention and control of the COVID-19 outbreak in China are relatively few. We aimed to compare the strengths and weaknesses of early surveillance and public health emergency disposal for prevention and control between COVID-19 and H7N9 avian influenza, which was commended by the international community, in China.MethodsA case-comparison study was conducted using a set of six key time nodes to form a reference framework for evaluating early surveillance and public health emergency disposal between H7N9 avian influenza (2013) in Shanghai, China and COVID-19 in Wuhan, China.FindingsA report to the local Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China, for the first hospitalized patient was sent after 6 and 20 days for H7N9 avian influenza and COVID-19, respectively. In contrast, the pathogen was identified faster in the case of COVID-19 than in the case of H7N9 avian influenza (12 days vs. 31 days). The government response regarding COVID-19 was 10 days later than that regarding avian influenza. The entire process of early surveillance and public health emergency disposal lasted 5 days longer in COVID-19 than in H7N9 avian influenza (46 days vs. 41 days).ConclusionsThe identification of the unknown pathogen improved in China between the outbreaks of avian influenza and COVID-19. The longer emergency disposal period in the case of COVID-19 could be attributed to the government’s slower response to the epidemic. Improving public health emergency management could lessen the adverse social effects of emerging infectious diseases and public health crisis in the future.ContributorsTZ, WS, and LL designed the project, processed and analyzed the data, and wrote the manuscript. YW, GB, RD, and QW edited the manuscript. All authors revised the draft.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2, SARS and MERS: Three formidable coronaviruses which have originated from bats

2021 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 91-100
Author(s):  
Arezoo Mirzaei ◽  
Sharareh Moghim
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Inhibitory Activity ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
International Public Health ◽  
Medical Need ◽  
The World ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Death Cases

The recent continuously emerging rampancy of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that started in Wuhan in late December 2019 has become an international public health emergency and is still spreading rapidly in the world. Up to October 11, 2020, 37.109.6851 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been announced with 2.8 percent death, which means 1.070.355 confirmed death cases. At the moment, a specific vaccine or drug for the new coronavirus is not available; thus, the development of a drug with far-reaching HCoV inhibitory activity is an urgent medical need. It is, however, vital to first comprehend the nature of this family and other coronaviruses that have caused the outbreak. Here, we relate the epidemiological and virological characteristics of the COVID-19, SARS, and MERS rampancy.

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