Ethnological aspects of COVID-19

Abstract Within recent past, coronavirus has shaken the whole world. The world faced a new pandemic of novel coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2/ COVID-19).It has socioeconomically impacted world population a lot in terms of education, economy as well as physical and mental health. This novel coronavirus is notorious enough that put human health at a great risk. Currently, researchers all over the world aretrying hard to develop a new drug/vaccine for its treatment. In past decades, the world population has faced various viral infectious illness outbreaks. Influenza A, Ebola, Zika, SARS and MERS viruses had whacked public health and economy. Medical science technology achieved the landmark in developing coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines that are approved currently for emergency use. Some of the recently approved vaccines are developed by Pfizer and Moderna, Johnson and Johnson, Gam-COVID-vac (Sputnik V), Bharat Biotech (covaxin) andOxford-AstraZeneca vaccines (covishield) (Badenet al., 2021). Here, a short review is drafted focusingon infection, immune system, pathogenesis, phylogenesis, mode of transmission and impact of coronavirus on health and economy and recent developments in treating COVID-19

Three simultaneous hospital outbreaks of MERS in Saudi Arabia

From 26 May 2017 to 25 June 2017, three, simultaneous, clusters of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus [MERS-CoV] were reported from three different hospitals in Riyadh city, Riyadh Region in Saudi Arabia, of which two clusters are related. A total of 48 laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS, 6 related deaths were reported during this period from the three clusters [Case–fatality rate, CFR: 12.5%] [Please see the table]. 54% of detected MERS cases were health care works [HCWs] with no reported death; 60% of the cases were asymptomatic

Health advisories for travelers to Saudi Arabia, Hajj, 1438 H

Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is one of the largest and most longstanding annual mass gathering event in the world. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health has issued Health conditions for travelers to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage to Mecca [Hajj] – health requirements and recommendations in connection with performing hajj in 2017 [1438 H]

Awareness among a Saudi Arabian university community of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus following an outbreak

This study aimed to measure the level of awareness of faculty members, staff and students in a female Saudi Arabian university community towards Middle East respiratory syndrome coronvirus [MERS-CoV] following an outbreak. A self-administered questionnaire containing knowledge questions was distributed and completed by the 1541 participants. The overall knowledge score was 43.2%. It was only significantly higher in participants from the health colleges [50.6%]. The majority [78.9%] of the respondents recognized the typical symptoms of MERS-CoV but only 67.1% knew the recommended preventive hygiene practices. Awareness of disease epidemiology, severity, fatality rate and treatment was very low. The knowledge of health care workers/students of the recommended precautions that should be applied when dealing with patients was poor [55.5%]. Significant improvement in educational programmes for both the health care and non-health care professionals is warranted, particularly in crowded educational institutions or workplaces

MERS in Bahrain

Bahrain reported its first case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus [MERS-CoV] on 10 April 2016. The case was fatal, a 61-year-old Saudi male who was admit-ted to a health facility in Bahrain for an unrelated medical condition. With this case reported from Bahrain, which was an imported case, all member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council have now reported laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS

Hospital outbreak of MERS

A cluster of MERS-CoV cases was reported from a university hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in recent time. A total of 18 laboratory-confirmed case of Middle East respiratory syndrome [MERS], including one related death was reported from this cluster. Most of the cases were asymptomatic and were detected following an active screening of close contacts of the index patient. A total of 12 asymptomatic health care workers were identified from this cluster

Asymptomatic cases of MERS

Asymptomatic cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [MERS] continue to be reported without any understanding of its role in transmission of the virus. So far, since the virus was first detected in April 2012, a total of 202 asymptomatic cases of MERS has been detected [please see the table] out of over 1600 laboratory-confirmed cases [over 13%]

MERS: epidemiological characteristics remain unchanged

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus [MERS] continue to be reported sporadically. However, the epidemiological characteristics of the disease has not changed since the virus was detected in 2012

Burden of acute respiratory disease of epidemic and pandemic potential in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: a literature review

There are gaps in the knowledge about the burden of severe respiratory disease in the Eastern Mediterranean Region [EMR]. This literature review was therefore conducted to describe the burden of epidemic- and pandemic-prone acute respiratory infections [ARI] in the Region which may help in the development of evidence-based disease prevention and control policies. Relevant published and unpublished reports were identified from searches of various databases; 83 documents fulfilled the search criteria. The infections identified included: ARI, avian influenza A[H5N1], influenza A[H1N1]pdm09 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus [MERS-CoV] infection. Pneumonia and ARIs were leading causes of disease and death in the Region. Influenza A[H1N1] was an important cause of morbidity during the 2009 pandemic. This review provides a descriptive summary of the burden of acute respiratory diseases in the Region, but there still remains a lack of necessary data

Psychobehavioural responses to the 2014 Middle East respiratory syndrome-novel corona virus [MERS CoV] among adults in two shopping malls in Jeddah, western Saudi Arabia

Sporadic cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome caused by a novel corona virus [MERS-CoV] were first detected in Saudi Arabia in June 2012. The number of cases was highest during April and May 2014. To assess determinants of psychobehavioural responses among the general population in Jeddah, western Saudi Arabia, a cross-sectional survey was conducted at the end of June 2014. Data included sociodemographic characteristics, level of anxiety, protective measures and social avoidance responses. A total of 358 participants completed the questionnaire; 58.4% were female, and the age range was 18-72 years. None of the participants was diagnosed with MERS-CoV. More than half [57.7%] recorded a moderate anxiety score using a visual analogue scale. Anxiety level was significantly associated with increased perception of susceptibility to infection and social avoidance behaviours related to travel and being in public places

MERS-CoV: consideraciones generales para el diagnóstico por laboratorio / MERS-CoV: general considerations for laboratory diagnosis

La confirmación de un caso probable o sospechoso de infección por MERS-CoV (según criterios clínicos y epidemiológicos), sólo puede ser realizada mediante pruebas de laboratorio. Sin embargo, otros patógenos respiratorios virales (incluyendo, pero no limitado a: Influenza, Virus Sincitial Respiratorio, otros beta y alphacoronavirus humanos comunes) y bacterianos (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae tipo b, Legionella pneumophila) deben ser considerados dentro del algoritmo diagnóstico.