scholarly journals Epidemiology of Diphtheria in Yemen, 2017-2018: Surveillance Data Analysis (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suaad Ameen Moghalles ◽  
Basher Ahmed Aboasba ◽  
Mohammed Abdullah Alamad ◽  
Yousef Saleh Khader

BACKGROUND As a consequence of war and the collapse of the health system in Yemen, which prevented many people from accessing health facilities to obtain primary health care, vaccination coverage was affected, leading to a deadly diphtheria epidemic at the end of 2017. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of diphtheria in Yemen and determine its incidence and case fatality rate. METHODS Data were obtained from the diphtheria surveillance program 2017-2018, using case definitions of the World Health Organization. A probable case was defined as a case involving a person having laryngitis, pharyngitis, or tonsillitis and an adherent membrane of the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nose. A confirmed case was defined as a probable case that was laboratory confirmed or linked epidemiologically to a laboratory-confirmed case. Data from the Central Statistical Organization was used to calculate the incidence per 100,000 population. A <i>P</i> value &lt;.05 was considered significant. RESULTS A total of 2243 cases were reported during the period between July 2017 and August 2018. About 49% (1090/2243, 48.6%) of the cases were males. About 44% (978/2243, 43.6%) of the cases involved children aged 5 to 15 years. Respiratory tract infection was the predominant symptom (2044/2243, 91.1%), followed by pseudomembrane (1822/2243, 81.2%). Based on the vaccination status, the percentages of partially vaccinated, vaccinated, unvaccinated, and unknown status patients were 6.6% (148/2243), 30.8% (690/2243), 48.6% (10902243), and 14.0% (315/2243), respectively. The overall incidence of diphtheria was 8 per 100,000 population. The highest incidence was among the age group &lt;15 years (11 per 100,000 population), and the lowest incidence was among the age group ≥15 years (5 per 100,000 population). The overall case fatality rate among all age groups was 5%, and it was higher (10%) in the age group &lt;5 years. Five governorates that were difficult to access (Raymah, Abyan, Sa'ada, Lahj, and Al Jawf) had a very high case fatality rate (22%). CONCLUSIONS Diphtheria affected a large number of people in Yemen in 2017-2018. The majority of patients were partially or not vaccinated. Children aged ≤15 years were more affected, with higher fatality among children aged &lt;5 years. Five governorates that were difficult to access had a case fatality rate twice that of the World Health Organization estimate (5%-10%). To control the diphtheria epidemic in Yemen, it is recommended to increase routine vaccination coverage and booster immunizations, increase public health awareness toward diphtheria, and strengthen the surveillance system for early detection and immediate response.

Author(s):  
Daniel Martin Simadibrata ◽  
Cleopas Martin Rumende ◽  
Rahmad Mulyadi ◽  
Marcellus Simadibrata

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging infectious disease officially declared as a pandemic on 11 March 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO). Indonesia’s COVID-19 case fatality rate remain consistently high, approximately twice the global case fatality rate available. Patients typically present with fever, dry cough and dyspnea. However, there were reports of atypical COVID-19 symptoms such as myalgia, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. These atypical presentations were suggested to indicate a more severe COVID-19. Here, we present a case of COVID-19 patient presenting with gastrointestinal-specific symptoms in Indonesia.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
WURI RATNA HIDAYANI

Kasus pneumonia misterius yang belum diketahui etiologinya dilaporkan pada akhir Desember 2019 di Tiongkok. Terjadi lonjakan kasus dalam waktu relative singkat pasien pneumonia berjumlah 44 pasien dan terus meningkat menjadi ribuan kasus. Kasus ini kemudian diidentifikasikan ke dalam kasus Novel Corona Virus Diseases 19 (COVID 19) (Perhimpunan Dokter Paru Indonesia, 2020). Menurut World Health Organization (WHO) menyatakan bahwa hasil diagnosis tes Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) negative dengan tanda klinis infeksi COVID 19 di Kazakhstan dikelompokkan ke dalam perhitungan total COVID 19, pernyataan ini disiarkan sejak tanggal 1 Agustus 2020 dengan laporan adanya kasus pneumonia dengan gejala klinis COVID 19 sebanyak 13.121 kasus dengan kematian sebanyak 152 kematian sehingga Case Fatality Rate (CFR) sebesar 1,16% (Xinshua, 2020). Pada Tahun 2015 di dunia kasus pneumonia mencapai 920.000 jiwa setiap tahunnya dengan arti bahwa ada 2 balita meninggal setiap menitnya. Menurut WHO (2017) menyatakan bahwa terdapat 25.481 kematian karena pernafasan akut atau 17% dari seluruh kematian dunia dan Indonesia merupakan peringkat 7 dunia pada kasus pneumonia (Newswire, 2019).


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 713
Author(s):  
Evi Diliana Rospia ◽  
Dwi Kartika Cahyaningtyas ◽  
Desi Rofita ◽  
Cahaya Indah Lestari ◽  
Ni Wayan Ari Adi Putri ◽  
...  

ABSTRAKNovel coronavirus 2019 atau virus corona sindrom pernafasan akut parah yang disebut COVID-19. Gejala klinis utama yang muncul yaitu demam, batuk dan kesulitan bernapas. World Health Organization (WHO) melaporkan 11.84.226 kasus konfirmasi dengan 545.481 kematian di seluruh dunia (Case Fatality Rate/CFR 4,6%). Di Indonesia kasus meningkat dan menyebar dengan cepat, kasus pertama pada tanggal 2 Maret 2020, pada tanggal 9 Juli 2020 Kementerian Kesehatan melaporkan 70.736 kasus konfirmasi COVID-19 dengan 3.417 kasus meninggal (CFR 4,8%). Kegiatan vaksinasi masal ini bertujuan terbentuknya herd immunity (kekebalan kelompok) dan berkurangnya angka kematian akibat COVID-19 pada masyarakat. Kegiatan vaksinasi masal dilaksanakan di Universitas Muhammadiyah Mataram Kota Mataram Nusa Tenggara Barat, dan jenis vaksin yang digunakan pada kegiatan vaksinasi masal ini adalah Sinovac. Jumlah responden yang mengikuti kegiatan ini sebanyak 1.000 orang. Hasil pengabdian didapatkan jumlah yang melakukan vaksinasi sebanyak 1000 orang yang terdiri dari masyarakat umum dan karyawan Universitas Muhammadiyah Mataram. Kata kunci: vaksinasi; covid-19; komunitas; indonesia. ABSTRACTNovel coronavirus 2019 or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus called COVID-19. The main symptoms that appear are fever, cough and difficulty breathing. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports 11,84,226 confirmed cases with 545,481 deaths worldwide (Case Fatality Rate/CFR 4.6%) In Indonesia cases are increasing and spreading rapidly, the first case on March 2, 2020, on July 9 2020 The Ministry of Health reported 70,736 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 3,417 deaths (CFR 4.8%). This mass vaccination activity aims to form herd immunity and reduce the death rate due to COVID-19 in the community. The mass vaccination activity was carried out at the Muhammadiyah University of Mataram, and the type of vaccine used in this mass vaccination activity was Sinovac. The number of respondents who participated in this activity was 1,000 people. The results of the service found that the number of people who vaccinated was 1000 people consisting of the general public and employees of the Muhammadiyah University of Mataram. Keywords: vaccination; covid-19; community; indonesia. 


Author(s):  
Anamaria Ioana PAȘTIU ◽  
Vlad COCOSTÎRC ◽  
Carmen TURCU ◽  
Felix LUCACI ◽  
Dana Liana PUSTA

December 2019 was marked by the emergence of a novel human coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in Wuhan, China, which causes a variety of symptoms, commonly known as COVID-19. The high contagiousness, rapid worldwide spread and case fatality rate have led to a sharp increase in number of infected persons and related deaths, which subsequently resulted in the recognition of the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. SARS-CoV-2 is an ongoing challenge not only for the healthcare professional but also for the general population. The aim of this literature review is to summarize the currently available data on COVID-19 regarding the origins, pathogenesis and epidemiology.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (47) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaux MI Meslé ◽  
Jeremy Brown ◽  
Piers Mook ◽  
José Hagan ◽  
Roberta Pastore ◽  
...  

Since December 2019, over 1.5 million SARS-CoV-2-related fatalities have been recorded in the World Health Organization European Region - 90.2% in people ≥ 60 years. We calculated lives saved in this age group by COVID-19 vaccination in 33 countries from December 2020 to November 2021, using weekly reported deaths and vaccination coverage. We estimated that vaccination averted 469,186 deaths (51% of 911,302 expected deaths; sensitivity range: 129,851–733,744; 23–62%). Impact by country ranged 6–93%, largest when implementation was early.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Youssef Kada

BACKGROUND Covid-19 is an emerging infectious disease like viral zoonosis caused by new coronavirus SARS CoV 2. On December 31, 2019, Wuhan Municipal Health Commission in Hubei province (China) reported cases of pneumonia, the origin of which is a new coronavirus. Rapidly extendable around the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) declares it pandemic on March 11, 2020. This pandemic reaches Algeria on February 25, 2020, date on which the Algerian minister of health, announced the first case of Covid-19, a foreign citizen. From March 1, a cluster is formed in Blida and becomes the epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic in Algeria, its total quarantine is established on March 24, 2020, it will be smoothly alleviated on April 24. A therapeutic protocol based on hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin was put in place on March 23, for complicated cases, it was extended to all the cases confirmed on April 06. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquin/azithromycin protocol in Algeria, in particular after its extension to all patients diagnosed COVID-19 positive on RT-PCR test. We were able to illustrate this fact graphically, but not to prove it statistically because the design of our study, indeed in the 7 days which followed generalization of therapeutic protocol, case fatality rate decrease and doubling time increase, thus confirming the impact of wide and early prescription of hydroxychloroquin/azithromycin protocol. METHODS We have analyzed the data collected from press releases and follow-ups published daily by the Ministry of Health, we have studied the possible correlations of these data with certain events or decisions having a possible impact on their development, such as confinement at home and its reduction, the prescription of hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin combination for serious patients and its extension to all positive COVID subjects. Results are presented in graphics, the data collection was closed on 31/05/2020. RESULTS Covid-19 pandemic spreads from February 25, 2020, when a foreign citizen is tested positive, on March 1 a cluster is formed in the city of Blida where sixteen members of the same family are infected during a wedding party. Wilaya of Blida becomes the epicentre of coronavirus epidemic in Algeria and lockdown measures taken, while the number of national cases diagnosed begins to increases In any event, the association of early containment measures combined with a generalized initial treatment for all positive cases, whatever their degree of severity, will have contributed to a reduction in the fatality rate of COVID 19 and a slowing down of its doubling time. CONCLUSIONS In Algeria, the rapid combination of rigorous containment measure at home and early generalized treatment with hydroxychloroquin have demonstrated their effectiveness in terms of morbidity and mortality, the classic measures of social distancing and hygiene will make it possible to perpetuate these results by reducing viral transmission, the only unknown, the reopening procedure which can only be started after being surrounded by precautions aimed at ensuring the understanding of the population. CLINICALTRIAL Algeria, Covid-19, pandemic, hydroxychloroquin, azithromycin, case fatality rate


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1966 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 392-392
Author(s):  
THOMAS E. CONE

This is a timely, concise, eminently practical, thoughtfully, even tenderly, written 28 page report of a recent WHO Expert Committee meeting on the health problems of adolescence. The members and the consultants to the Committee deftly summarize the major worldwide trends affecting our adolescent population. The size of this population is staggering; in the age group 15-19 years alone there are already 300 million adolescents in the world, and there seems every likelihood that these numbers will increase rapidly during the next decade.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (8) ◽  
pp. 1718-1722
Author(s):  
Alberto Boretti

This work summarizes the available evidence of the use of chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine (CQ/HCQ) in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Most of the published works indicate CQ/HCQ is likely effective against SARS-CoV-2 infection, almost 100% in prophylaxis and mild-medium severity cases and 60% in late infection cases. The percentage of positive works is larger if those works conducted under a probable conflict of interest are excluded from the list. Despite this overwhelming evidence from independent studies, the use of CQ/HCQ is currently limited or prevented in many western countries, based on a very singular examination of the science. The case of a work published in late May 2020, despite being openly defective and then retracted, prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to ban the use of CQ/HCQ. This position has not yet rectified, thanks to the results of the not less questionable RECOVERY trial, where very sick patients were administered more than double the dose, over more than double the time, recommended for asymptomatic patients in current protocols of other countries, where CQ/HCQ are used for asymptomatic and mild but not severe pneumonia critically ill patients. While the case fatality rate does not depend only on therapies, it is finally shown based on the number of cases and fatalities per million and the case fatality rate as the western countries enforcing the ban on CQ/HCQ did not perform better, but much worse, than other countries, also because of therapies.


Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 218
Author(s):  
Pedro Plans-Rubió

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) proposed two-dose measles vaccination coverage of at least 95% of the population and percentages of measles immunity in the population of 85%−95% in order to achieve measles elimination in Europe. The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine the measles vaccination coverage required to establish herd immunity against measles viruses with basic reproduction numbers (Ro) ranging from 6 to 60, and (2) to assess whether the objectives proposed by the WHO are sufficient to establish herd immunity against measles viruses. Methods: The herd immunity effects of the recommended objectives were assessed by considering the prevalence of protected individuals required to establish herd immunity against measles viruses with Ro values ranging from 6 to 60. Results: The study found that percentages of two-dose measles vaccination coverage from 88% to 100% could establish herd immunity against measles viruses with Ro from 6 to 19, assuming 95% measles vaccination effectiveness. The study found that the objective of 95% for two-dose measles vaccination coverage proposed by the WHO would not be sufficient to establish herd immunity against measles viruses with Ro ≥ 10, assuming 95% measles vaccination effectiveness. By contrast, a 97% measles vaccination coverage objective was sufficient to establish herd immunity against measles viruses, with Ro values from 6 to 13. Measles immunity levels recommended in individuals aged 1−4 years (≥85%) and 5−9 years (≥90%) might not be sufficient to establish herd immunity against most measles viruses, while those recommended in individuals aged 10 or more years (≥95%) could be sufficient to establish herd immunity against measles viruses with Ro values from 6 to 20. Conclusion: To meet the goal of measles elimination in Europe, it is necessary to achieve percentages of two-dose measles vaccination coverage of at least 97%, and measles immunity levels in children aged 1−9 years of at least 95%.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Barletta

AbstractBackgroundDuring 2021 several new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus appeared with both increased levels of transmissibility and virulence with respect to the original wild variant. The Delta (B.1.617.2) variation, first seen in India, dominates COVID-19 infections in several large countries including the United States and India. Most recently, the Lambda variant of interest with increased resistance to vaccines has spread through much of South America.ObjectiveThis research explores the degree to which new variants of concern 1) generate spikes and waves of fluctuations in the daily case fatality rates (CFR) across countries in several regions in the face of increasing levels of vaccination of national populations and 2) may increase the vulnerability of persons with certain comorbidities.MethodsThis study uses new, openly available, epidemiological statistics reported to the relevant national and international authorities for countries across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Daily CFRs and correlations of fatal COVID-19 infections with potential cofactors are computed for the first half of 2021 that has been dominated by the wide spread of several “variants of concern” as denoted by the World Health Organization.ResultsThe analysis yields a new quantitative measure of the temporal dynamics of mortality due to SARS-CoV-2 infections in the form of variations of a proxy case fatality rate compared on a country to-country basis in the same region. It also finds minimal variation of correlation between the cofactors based on WHO data and on the average apparent case fatality rate.


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