The SARS, MERS and novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemics, the newest and biggest global health threats: what lessons have we learned?

Peeri, Noah C. and Shrestha, Nistha and Rahman, Md Siddikur and Zaki, Rafdzah Ahmad and Tan, Zhengqi and Bibi, Saana and Baghbanzadeh, Mahdi and Aghamohammadi, Nasrin and Zhang, Wenyi and Haque, Ubydul (2020) The SARS, MERS and novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemics, the newest and biggest global health threats: what lessons have we learned? International Journal of Epidemiology, 49 (3). pp. 717-726. ISSN 0300-5771, DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyaa033.

Full text not available from this repository.
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyaa033

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To provide an overview of the three major deadly coronaviruses and identify areas for improvement of future preparedness plans, as well as provide a critical assessment of the risk factors and actionable items for stopping their spread, utilizing lessons learned from the first two deadly coronavirus outbreaks, as well as initial reports from the current novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic in Wuhan, China. METHODS: Utilizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, USA) website, and a comprehensive review of PubMed literature, we obtained information regarding clinical signs and symptoms, treatment and diagnosis, transmission methods, protection methods and risk factors for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and COVID-19. Comparisons between the viruses were made. RESULTS: Inadequate risk assessment regarding the urgency of the situation, and limited reporting on the virus within China has, in part, led to the rapid spread of COVID-19 throughout mainland China and into proximal and distant countries. Compared with SARS and MERS, COVID-19 has spread more rapidly, due in part to increased globalization and the focus of the epidemic. Wuhan, China is a large hub connecting the North, South, East and West of China via railways and a major international airport. The availability of connecting flights, the timing of the outbreak during the Chinese (Lunar) New Year, and the massive rail transit hub located in Wuhan has enabled the virus to perforate throughout China, and eventually, globally. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that we did not learn from the two prior epidemics of coronavirus and were ill-prepared to deal with the challenges the COVID-19 epidemic has posed. Future research should attempt to address the uses and implications of internet of things (IoT) technologies for mapping the spread of infection. © The Author(s) 2020; all rights reserved. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association.

Item Type: Article
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords: Coronavirus; COVID-19; epidemic; epidemiology; MERS; nCoV; outbreak; SARS
Subjects: R Medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine
Depositing User: Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim
Date Deposited: 18 Aug 2020 07:18
Last Modified: 18 Aug 2020 07:18
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/25402

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item