From Editor’s Desk…
A few examples of emerging viruses that are posing a serious threat to public health and receiving international attention are the avian influenza virus, Ebola, the coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and the coronavirus that causes Middle East respiratory disease (MERS). The world has been battling to recover from COVID-19 up until this moment. However, there are fresh challenges that are emerging, which is alarming.
From July 4 to October 13, 2023, the Kankan region located in east-central Guinea reported a total of 538 cases of diphtheria. A total of 520 cases were suspected, out of which 18 were confirmed, resulting in 58 deaths, including 13 confirmed deaths. The predominant age group of patients were within the range of 1 to 4 years.
There is an outbreak of dengue in Chad, according to the Ministry of Public Health and Prevention. Eight health districts spread over four provinces reported 1,342 suspected cases as of October 1st, of which 41 were confirmed.
From September 12 to 15, 2023, the Kozhikode district in Kerala witnessed six laboratory-confirmed cases of the Nipah virus, including two deaths, according to the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The infectious pathogens that are spreading continue to pose a threat to public safety. However, there are also typical approaches to deal with the issue, like epidemiological studies, public awareness initiatives, and effective public health systems.
Source: World Health Organisation (WHO)
Dr. Khalid Mohammed Alabdulwahhab
Editor in Chief
Key words: Editorial
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