scholarly journals The role of vectors in emerging and re-emerging diseases in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-67
Author(s):  
H. R. Rathor

Considerable attention has recently been drawn at a global level to the serious threat to humans by the new, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Among the infectious vector-borne diseases, dengue, dengue haemorrhagic fever, yellow fever, plague, malaria, leishmaniasis, rodent-borne viruses and arboviruses are considered to be persisting, and sometimes re-emerging, with serious threats to human health. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, dengue, malaria and leishmaniasis are the significant vector-borne diseases. This article discusses the role of vectors in the re-emergence of malaria, leishmaniasis and dengue fever and their control

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 225-331
Author(s):  
Dilehan Avşar ◽  
Gökhan Avşar

The number of women entrepreneurs who start a new business or own a business has been increasing rapidly in recent years. The aim of this study was to determine the problems faced by women entrepreneurs registered in the associations and chambers of business in the Eastern Mediterranean Region during their entrepreneurship and to examine the effects of these problems on women entrepreneurs. The main purpose of this study is to define the role of female labor force in the new sectoral structure in the changing labor market. In addition, it is aimed to identify the existing entrepreneurship activities, to examine the barriers to entrepreneurship and to propose solutions to the problems identified in line with the findings. The role of women entrepreneurs in the labor market is examined. Evaluating these factors, which are thought to affect the business life of women entrepreneurs, to develop suggestions that can contribute to their development and empowerment. Within the scope of this study, women entrepreneurs in the Eastern Mediterranean Region were investigated. In the preliminary study, women entrepreneurs registered as women entrepreneurs were identified by contacting the Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Industry, Organized Industrial Zone and Commodity Exchange, and the research was conducted through face-to-face questionnaires with the entrepreneurs who accepted the interview in Eastern Mediterranean Region. At the end of the study, the most common problems faced by women engaged in entrepreneurship activity were; low level of education, insufficient financial support and lack of information. In developing countries such as Turkey, especially in terms of the effects of women's entrepreneurship development should not be ignored.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saverio Bellizzi ◽  
Chris Lane ◽  
Mohamed Elhakim ◽  
Pierre Nabeth

Abstract Background: Over the past four decades, drought episodes in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) of the of the World Health Organization (WHO) have gradually become more widespread, prolonged and frequent. We aimed to map hotspot countries and identified key strategic actions for health consequences.Methods: We reviewed scientific literature and WHO EMR documentation on trends and patterns of the drought health consequences from 1990 through 2019. Extensive communication was also carried out with EMR WHO country offices to retrieve information on ongoing initiatives to face health consequences due to drought. An index score was developed to categorize countries according vulnerability factors towards drought. Results: A series of complex health consequences are due to drought in EMR, including malnutrition, vector-borne diseases, and water-borne diseases. The index score indicated how Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia are “hotspots” due to poor population health status and access to basic sanitation as well as other elements such as food insecurity, displacement and conflicts/political instability. WHO country offices effort is towards enhancing access to water and sanitation and essential healthcare services including immunization and psychological support, strengthening disease surveillance and response, and risk communication. Conclusions: Drought-related health effects in the WHO EMR represent a public health emergency. Strengthening mitigation activities and additional tailored efforts are urgently needed to overcome context-specific gaps and weaknesses, with specific focus on financing, accountability and enhanced data availability.


Author(s):  
Alex G. Stewart ◽  
Sam Ghebrehewet ◽  
Peter MacPherson

This chapter describes the increasing global problem of new and emerging infections, many zoonotic, ranging from the recently described Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) to bacteria now resistant to all locally available antimicrobial agents. The environmental, human, technological, and microbial factors contributing to disease emergence are assessed. Changes in environment and land use result in the spread of vector-borne diseases into new areas, and global travel and trade may introduce pathogens to non-immune populations. The breakdown of health services following political change or during conflict can result in the resurgence of previously controlled communicable diseases. The importance of collaboration between human and veterinary health services is emphasized, and the UK ‘DATER’ strategy (Detection, Assessment, Treatment, Escalation, Recovery) for dealing with pandemic influenza is applied to new and emerging infections. Finally, the role of internet-based, syndromic surveillance to create early awareness of new infections is considered.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faris Lami ◽  
Maisa Elfadul ◽  
Hiba Abdulrahman Rashak ◽  
Mohannad Al Nsour ◽  
Hashaam Akhtar ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The establishment of empirical evidence in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) necessitates the implementation of wide-scale studies to describe the demographic, clinical features, and severity profile ofCOVID-19 patients. OBJECTIVE Hence, this study aimed to to assess the patterns of COVID-19 severity and mortality in seven countries and to determine the risk factors of COVID-19 severity and mortality. METHODS This multi-country study was based on a retrospective review of medical records of hospitalized patients confirmed to have COVID-19. This study included data from Iraq, Pakistan, Sudan, Somalia, Morocco, Egypt, and Yemen. All demographic and clinical data were extracted from hospital records (paper files) by trained data collectors. RESULTS A total of 4141 patients were included in this study from seven countries. Comorbidities were reported by nearly half of the patients, with hypertension (HT)(24.7%)and diabetes (22.7%) being the most common. Older age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and heart diseases were significantly associated with COVID-19 severity and mortality. Ever smoking and renal diseases were significantly associated with severity but not mortality, while male gender, respiratory diseases, and malignancy were significantly associated with mortality but not severity. CONCLUSIONS The study confirmed the role of comorbidities and demographic features on the severity and mortality of COVID-19. Understanding the contributing factors ensures attentive care and informs clinical management of patients with poorer prognosis in early stages of


Author(s):  
Ehsan Mostafavi ◽  
Abdolmajid Ghasemian ◽  
Abubakar Abdinasir ◽  
Seyed Alireza Nematollahi Mahani ◽  
Salman Rawaf ◽  
...  

Background: Countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) are predisposed to highly contagious, severe and fatal, emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), and re-emerging infectious diseases (RIDs). This paper reviews the epidemiological situation of EIDs and RIDs of global concern in the EMR between 2001 and 2018. Methods: To do a narrative review, a complete list of studies in the field was we prepared following a systematic search approach. Studies that were purposively reviewed were identified to summarize the epidemiological situation of each targeted disease. A comprehensive search of all published studies on EIDs and RIDs between 2001 and 2018 was carried out through search engines including Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Results: Leishmaniasis, hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) are reported from all countries in the region. Chikungunya, Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), dengue fever, and H5N1 have been increasing in number, frequency, and expanding in their geographic distribution. Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), which was reported in this region in 2012 is still a public health concern. There are challenges to control cholera, diphtheria, leishmaniasis, measles, and poliomyelitis in some of the countries. Moreover, Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever (AHF), and Rift Valley fever (RVF) are limited to some countries in the region. Also, there is little information about the real situation of the plague, Q fever, and tularemia. Conclusion: EIDs and RIDs are prevalent in most countries in the region and could further spread within the region. It is crucial to improve regional capacities and capabilities in preventing and responding to disease outbreaks with adequate resources and expertise.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saverio Bellizzi ◽  
Chris Lane ◽  
Mohamed Elhakim ◽  
Pierre Nabeth

Abstract Background Over the past four decades, drought episodes in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) of the of the World Health Organization (WHO) have gradually become more widespread, prolonged and frequent. We aimed to map hotspot countries and identified key strategic actions for health consequences. Methods We reviewed scientific literature and WHO EMR documentation on trends and patterns of the drought health consequences from 1990 through 2019. Extensive communication was also carried out with EMR WHO country offices to retrieve information on ongoing initiatives to face health consequences due to drought. An index score was developed to categorize countries according vulnerability factors towards drought. Results A series of complex health consequences are due to drought in EMR, including malnutrition, vector-borne diseases, and water-borne diseases. The index score indicated how Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia are “hotspots” due to poor population health status and access to basic sanitation as well as other elements such as food insecurity, displacement and conflicts/political instability. WHO country offices effort is towards enhancing access to water and sanitation and essential healthcare services including immunization and psychological support, strengthening disease surveillance and response, and risk communication. Conclusions Drought-related health effects in the WHO EMR represent a public health emergency. Strengthening mitigation activities and additional tailored efforts are urgently needed to overcome context-specific gaps and weaknesses, with specific focus on financing, accountability and enhanced data availability.


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