scholarly journals COVID-19 in Southeast Asia

2021 ◽  
Vol In Press (In Press) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Moradi

Background: The emerging disease COVID-19 was first identified in China in late 2019. It soon spread to most countries and continents. The symptoms of this disease range from asymptomatic to severe and fatal. This disease is now an important pandemic and has created an emergency in the world. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Southeast Asia. Methods: This ecological study describes the epidemiological features of COVID-19 in southeastern Asia. Data related to identified definite cases and deaths due to this disease along with other information were extracted from the reports of the World Health Organization and imported to SPSS software. The case fatality rate was calculated separately for each country. Results: The highest number of reported cases of this disease was 30,458,251 in India, and the highest number of death was in this country with 400,312 cases, and the highest mortality rate was in Indonesia with 2.67%. Conclusions: Using masks and observing social distance and quarantine rules, as well as upgrading diagnostic and laboratory equipment to identify patients, are effective ways to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Moradi

Background: COVID-19 is an emerging disease that was first identified in China and then spread to most countries around the world. The disease was caused by the coronavirus and led to restrictions in most parts of the world. Definitive causes have been identified, and mortality from the disease is high in continental Europe. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the epidemiology of COVID-19 in continental Europe. Methods: This was an ecological study and described the characteristics of COVID-19 in continental Europe. Data related to the definite cases of diagnosis and death due to this disease and World Health Organization reports were recruited and transferred to Excel and SPSS software. Case fatality rates were also calculated for each country. Results: The highest confirmed number of diagnosed cases of COVID-19 was in Russia with 4,333,029 cases, and the highest number of deaths reported due to COVID19 was in the United Kingdom with 124,419 cases. The highest case fatality rates were from Bulgaria 4.08%. Conclusions: COVID-19 is a highly contagious and deadly disease, and until an effective vaccine is available, the prevention of disease transmission is possible only through observing social distancing.


2021 ◽  
Vol In Press (In Press) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Moradi

Background: In late December 2019, a coronavirus outbreak first occurred in Wuhan, China, and then spread worldwide, which became a major global emergency. This severe respiratory illness called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is transmitted through respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of COVID-19 in continental America. Methods: This study was an ecological study describing the epidemiological features of COVID-19 in the Americas. The data of identified definitive cases and deaths from this disease and other information were extracted from the reports of the World Health Organization and transferred to SPSS software (version 24). Furthermore, the case fatality rate was separately calculated for each country. Results: The highest number of COVID-19 reported cases and the highest COVID-19 mortality rate were in the United States, with 72,186,963 and 1,896,955 cases, respectively. Moreover, the highest case fatality rate was reported as 9.38% in Peru. Conclusions: The prevention of COVID-19 transmission in countries is possible with general vaccination and observation of social distancing. These measures reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and are effective ways to control this global health problem.


PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tingting Hu ◽  
Ying Liu ◽  
Mingyi Zhao ◽  
Quan Zhuang ◽  
Linyong Xu ◽  
...  

In mid-December 2019, a novel atypical pneumonia broke out in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China and was caused by a newly identified coronavirus, initially termed 2019 Novel Coronavirus and subsequently severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As of 19 May 2020, a total of 4,731,458 individuals were reported as infected with SARS-CoV-2 among 213 countries, areas or territories with recorded cases, and the overall case-fatality rate was 6.6% (316,169 deaths among 4,731,458 recorded cases), according to the World Health Organization. Studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 is notably similar to (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) SARS-CoV that emerged in 2002–2003 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) that spread during 2012, and these viruses all contributed to global pandemics. The ability of SARS-CoV-2 to rapidly spread a pneumonia-like disease from Hubei Province, China, throughout the world has provoked widespread concern. The main symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) include fever, cough, myalgia, fatigue and lower respiratory signs. At present, nucleic acid tests are widely recommended as the optimal method for detecting SARS-CoV-2. However, obstacles remain, including the global shortage of testing kits and the presentation of false negatives. Experts suggest that almost everyone in China is susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and to date, there are no effective treatments. In light of the references published, this review demonstrates the biological features, spread, diagnosis and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 as a whole and aims to analyse the similarities and differences among SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV to provide new ideas and suggestions for prevention, diagnosis and clinical treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (2) ◽  
pp. 003685042110096
Author(s):  
Yair Y Shaki

On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared SARS-CoV-2 a global pandemic, based on a high infection rate and a high case fatality rate (CFR). The combination of these two points led WHO to forecast a high expected mortality rate of approximately 2% of the population. The phenomenon of Simpson’s paradox teaches us that we should be careful when we combine two variables together. Indeed, despite the high mortality rate in several places, this forecast seems to have collapsed. We believe one of the reasons for the erroneous forecasts is that combining the above points ignored a confounding variable – many of the virus carriers are asymptomatic and therefore not diagnosed.


2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 3-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Falzon ◽  
Y Kudjawu ◽  
J C Desenclos ◽  
K Fernandez de la Hoz ◽  
A Dadu ◽  
...  

Overview of the epidemiological situation in 2006. The latest available information from countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region carries important signals about the tuberculosis (TB) situation in this part of the world [1]. The total number of TB cases reported in the Region was slightly lower in 2006 than in 2005 (422,830 versus 426,457), reflecting a decrease in three-fourths of the reporting countries. Most TB cases in 2006 (73%) were reported by 12 former Soviet Union republics in the East, 21% by the European Union and West (EU and West) and 6% by the remaining countries in the Balkans (Table 1; for the composition of geographical areas see Box). National TB notification rates ranged from 4 to 282 per 100,000 population. The total TB notification rate for the whole Region has increased very slightly between 2002 and 2006, from 46 to 48 cases per 100,000, although rates of previously untreated TB cases appear to be on the decrease in both the East and West (Figure 1). We describe the main epidemiological features of TB cases notified in each of the abovementioned areas using surveillance data reported by the countries themselves.


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.


2003 ◽  
Vol 7 (14) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Horby ◽  
A Nicoll

As of 2 April 2003, 2223 cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and 78 deaths have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO), a case fatality rate of 3.5% (http://www.who.int/csr/sarscountry/2003_04_02/en/). This is an increase of four to fivefold in the global totals in the last seven days (http://www.who.int/csr/sarscountry/2003_03_25/en/) with the greatest proportionate and absolute increases being in China (Hong Kong and Guangdong Province), and to a much lesser extent in Canada. There has been little absolute rise in other country totals. Eighteen countries have now reported cases but in most of these no transmission seems to have occurred. Local transmission has occurred in Hanoi (Vietnam), Singapore, Toronto (Canada), Taiwan, and the following parts of China: Guangdong Province; Beijing; Shanxi; and the special administrative region of Hong Kong. In the United Kingdom three probable SARS cases have been reported; all have now recovered. Indeed, the only areas where WHO feels there is evidence consistent with current transmission are Hong Kong and Guangdong (http://www.who.int/csr/sarsarchive/2003_02_02b/en/), and the WHO has issued advice to international travellers not to travel to or through either area.


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):  
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 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samea Khan ◽  
Usman Shah Gilani ◽  
Syed Muhammad Muslim Raza ◽  
Tanveer Hussain

AbstractEnd of the year 2019 marks an unprecedented outbreak of a pandemic named COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2. It was first discovered in China and later spread to the whole world, currently inflicting almost 200 countries. After China, few other countries have emerged as potential epicenters of this disease including the US, Italy, Spain and Pakistan, as indicated by the World Health Organization (WHO). Since proper preventive and curative measures in the form of a vaccine or medication are currently unavailable throughout the world, the only remedy devised to stop the spread of this virus is self-isolation. Such a measure necessitates ample awareness and understanding among people to avoid actions that lead to the spread of this virus. Pakistan is the fifth-most populous country in the world (212.2 million) and has a record of contagious outbreaks in the past. Therefore, it is key to evaluate the general understanding regarding the cause, spread and control of this disease in Pakistani population and acquire data to anticipate the possible spread and persistence of this disease to design relevant preventive measures. We have attempted to collect such data from professionals who are susceptible to acquiring the infection due to an unavoidable exposure. Keeping in view the current lock down, we have relied on an internet based collection of data by filling a self-designed questionnaire that is responded to by 1132. Descriptive and Frequency Analysis were performed on the responses received using MS Excel and SPSS software. A total of 1132 individuals responded to the questionnaire among which include academic (45.8%), non-academic (20.8%), healthcare (7.8%), security (5.9%) and other (19.7%) professionals. The questionnaire addressed the level of basic information regarding the cause, spread, cure and prevention of this disease among professionals, in an attempt to provide directions for awareness campaigns at different levels in Pakistan and provide a model for similar outbreaks in the future.To our expectations, almost after a month of the coronavirus outbreak in Pakistan, above 50% to up to 90% of the recorded responses against every question showed ample understanding regarding the cause, spread and control of the disease which is an indicator of effective public awareness campaigns throughout the country largely based on media drive.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document