Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal [2024; Vol.30, Issue 2]

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal is the official health journal published by the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office of the World Health Organization. It is a forum for the presentation and promotion of new policies and initiatives in health services; and for the exchange of ideas concepts epidemiological data research findings and other information with special reference to the Eastern Mediterranean Region. It addresses all members of the health profession medical and other health educational institutes interested NGOs WHO Collaborating Centres and individuals within and outside the Region.

المجلة الصحية لشرق المتوسط هى المجلة الرسمية التى تصدرعن المكتب الاقليمى لشرق المتوسط بمنظمة الصحة العالمية. وهى منبر لتقديم السياسات والمبادرات الجديدة فى الصحة العامة والخدمات الصحية والترويج لها، و لتبادل الاراء و المفاهيم والمعطيات الوبائية ونتائج الابحاث وغير ذلك من المعلومات، و خاصة ما يتعلق منها باقليم شرق المتوسط. وهى موجهة الى كل اعضاء المهن الصحية، والكليات الطبية وسائر المعاهد التعليمية، و كذا المنظمات غير الحكومية المعنية، والمراكز المتعاونة مع منظمة الصحة العالمية والافراد المهتمين بالصحة فى الاقليم و خارجه

La Revue de Santé de la Méditerranée Orientale est une revue de santé officielle publiée par le Bureau régional de l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé pour la Méditerranée orientale. Elle offre une tribune pour la présentation et la promotion de nouvelles politiques et initiatives dans le domaine de la santé publique et des services de santé ainsi qu’à l’échange d’idées de concepts de données épidémiologiques de résultats de recherches et d’autres informations se rapportant plus particulièrement à la Région de la Méditerranée orientale. Elle s’adresse à tous les professionnels de la santé aux membres des instituts médicaux et autres instituts de formation médico-sanitaire aux ONG Centres collaborateurs de l’OMS et personnes concernés au sein et hors de la Région.

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal [2023; Vol.29, Issue 7]

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal is the official health journal published by the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office of the World Health Organization. It is a forum for the presentation and promotion of new policies and initiatives in health services; and for the exchange of ideas concepts epidemiological data research findings and other information with special reference to the Eastern Mediterranean Region. It addresses all members of the health profession medical and other health educational institutes interested NGOs WHO Collaborating Centres and individuals within and outside the Region

المجلة الصحية لشرق المتوسط هى المجلة الرسمية التى تصدرعن المكتب الاقليمى لشرق المتوسط بمنظمة الصحة العالمية. وهى منبر لتقديم السياسات والمبادرات الجديدة فى الصحة العامة والخدمات الصحية والترويج لها، و لتبادل الاراء و المفاهيم والمعطيات الوبائية ونتائج الابحاث وغير ذلك من المعلومات، و خاصة ما يتعلق منها باقليم شرق المتوسط. وهى موجهة الى كل اعضاء المهن الصحية، والكليات الطبية وسائر المعاهد التعليمية، و كذا المنظمات غير الحكومية المعنية، والمراكز المتعاونة مع منظمة الصحة العالمية والافراد المهتمين بالصحة فى الاقليم و خارجه

La Revue de Santé de la Méditerranée Orientale est une revue de santé officielle publiée par le Bureau régional de l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé pour la Méditerranée orientale. Elle offre une tribune pour la présentation et la promotion de nouvelles politiques et initiatives dans le domaine de la santé publique et des services de santé ainsi qu’à l’échange d’idées de concepts de données épidémiologiques de résultats de recherches et d’autres informations se rapportant plus particulièrement à la Région de la Méditerranée orientale. Elle s’adresse à tous les professionnels de la santé aux membres des instituts médicaux et autres instituts de formation médico-sanitaire aux ONG Centres collaborateurs de l’OMS et personnes concernés au sein et hors de la Région

Assessment and sero-diagnosis for coronaviruses with risk of human spillover.

Zoonotic coronaviruses (CoVs) caused major human outbreaks in the last two decades. One of the biggest challenges during future CoV disease is ensuring rapid detection and diagnosis at the early phase of a zoonotic event, and active surveillance to the zoonotic high-risk CoVs appears the best way at the present time to provide early warnings. However, there is neither an evaluation of spillover potential nor diagnosis tools for the majority of CoVs. Here, we analyzed the viral traits, including population, genetic diversity, receptor and host species for all 40 alpha- and beta-CoV species, where the human-infecting CoVs are from. Our analysis proposed 20 high-risk CoV species, including 6 of which jumped to human, 3 with evidence of spillover but not to human and 11 without evidence of spillover yet, which prediction were further supported by an analysis of the history of CoV zoonosis. We also found three major zoonotic sources: multiple bat-origin CoV species, the rodent-origin sub-genus Embecovirus and the CoV species AlphaCoV1. Moreover, the Rhinolophidae and Hipposideridae bats harbour a significantly higher proportion of human-threatening CoV species, whereas camel, civet, swine and pangolin could be important intermediate hosts during CoV zoonotic transmission. Finally, we established quick and sensitive serologic tools for a list of proposed high-risk CoVs and validated the methods in serum cross-reaction assays using hyper-immune rabbit sera or clinical samples. By comprehensive risk assessment of the potential human-infecting CoVs, our work provides a theoretical or practical basis for future CoV disease preparedness.

Assessment of concerns about vaccination among recovered COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia

Background: Vaccine hesitancy re-emerged as a critical public health issue during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aims: This study assessed the concerns of recovered COVID-19 patients about vaccination and the predictors of vaccine hesitancy. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 319 adult patients who recovered from COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. It was conducted during 1 May to 1 October 2020 at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh. Each participant was interviewed 6–12 months post-recovery using the vaccination attitude examination scale. Data were collected on COVID-19 illness severity, sociodemographic characteristics, history of chronic disease, and post-COVID-19 vaccination. Level of vaccination concern was assessed based on the percentage mean score (PMS). Results: Most (85.3%) of the patients who recovered from COVID-19 expressed moderate overall concern (PMS = 68.96%) about vaccination. Concern was highest for mistrust in vaccine benefits (PMS = 90.28%), followed by natural immunity preference (PMS = 81.33%) and worries about the vaccine side-effects (PMS = 60.29%). Concern over commercial profiteering was low (PMS = 43.92%). The overall PMS for concern about vaccination was significantly higher among patients aged 45+ years (t = 3.12, P = 0.002) and among those who had experienced severe COVID-19 illness (t = 1.96, P = 0.05). Conclusion: Overall concern about vaccination was high, and specific concerns were prevalent. Patient education on how the vaccine protects against reinfection should be targeted at COVID-19 patients before being discharged from hospital.

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal [2023; Vol.29, Issue 3]

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal is the official health journal published by the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office of the World Health Organization. It is a forum for the presentation and promotion of new policies and initiatives in health services; and for the exchange of ideas concepts epidemiological data research findings and other information with special reference to the Eastern Mediterranean Region. It addresses all members of the health profession medical and other health educational institutes interested NGOs WHO Collaborating Centres and individuals within and outside the Region

المجلة الصحية لشرق المتوسط هى المجلة الرسمية التى تصدرعن المكتب الاقليمى لشرق المتوسط بمنظمة الصحة العالمية. وهى منبر لتقديم السياسات والمبادرات الجديدة فى الصحة العامة والخدمات الصحية والترويج لها، و لتبادل الاراء و المفاهيم والمعطيات الوبائية ونتائج الابحاث وغير ذلك من المعلومات، و خاصة ما يتعلق منها باقليم شرق المتوسط. وهى موجهة الى كل اعضاء المهن الصحية، والكليات الطبية وسائر المعاهد التعليمية، و كذا المنظمات غير الحكومية المعنية، والمراكز المتعاونة مع منظمة الصحة العالمية والافراد المهتمين بالصحة فى الاقليم و خارجه

La Revue de Santé de la Méditerranée Orientale est une revue de santé officielle publiée par le Bureau régional de l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé pour la Méditerranée orientale. Elle offre une tribune pour la présentation et la promotion de nouvelles politiques et initiatives dans le domaine de la santé publique et des services de santé ainsi qu’à l’échange d’idées de concepts de données épidémiologiques de résultats de recherches et d’autres informations se rapportant plus particulièrement à la Région de la Méditerranée orientale. Elle s’adresse à tous les professionnels de la santé aux membres des instituts médicaux et autres instituts de formation médico-sanitaire aux ONG Centres collaborateurs de l’OMS et personnes concernés au sein et hors de la Région

Assessment of preparedness for response to COVID-19 by two hospitals in the Gaza Strip

Background: Hospital preparedness enables the healthcare delivery system to save lives during emergencies that surpass the day-to-day capacity of existing response systems. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected all aspects of life worldwide, and in the Gaza Strip particularly. Aims: We assessed the preparedness of 2 hospitals in the Gaza Strip for response to COVID-19. Methods: An observational, analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted among 160 nurses and physicians between July 2020 and October 2021 at the European Gaza Hospital and the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, 2 hospitals dedicated to the reception and care of COVID-19 patients in the Gaza Strip. Data were collected using a structured, selfadministered questionnaire and a checklist. The data were analysed using SPSS, version 23. Frequencies and descriptive data were used to assess the variables. Inferential statistics such as ANOVA and t-test were used to determine the significance and differences between the variables. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.903. Results: The majority of the participants were nurses (77.5%) and they showed a high level of knowledge and training regarding the response to COVID-19 pandemic (73.4 %). Their perception of the preparedness of their hospitals in terms of work environment and availability of resources was average (63.6%). Around 70% perceived COVID-19 to have had a negative effect on their personal lives and work. Conclusion: The preparedness level at the 2 hospitals was unsatisfactory (55.75%). Further research is recommended to assess the level of hospital preparedness from the viewpoint of other healthcare workers.