1
|
Das PR, Khan SA, Rahman JM, Dewan SMR. Effective Preventative Measures are Essential to Lower Disease Burden From Dengue and COVID-19 Co-infection in Bangladesh. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSIGHTS 2023; 17:11786302231212774. [PMID: 38035255 PMCID: PMC10685758 DOI: 10.1177/11786302231212774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Bangladesh is widely recognized as one of the dengue prone nations, and empirical evidence has consistently demonstrated an upward trend in the severity of the disease over time. With the persistent occurrence of dengue in Bangladesh and the ongoing presence of COVID-19, which has not been fully eradicated and may persist for an uncertain period of time, there is a high probability of co-infection between these 2 illnesses. Given the circumstances, the concurrent occurrence of the COVID-19 and dengue epidemics, along with the potential co-infection, may pose an overwhelming burden on healthcare systems that are already grappling with challenges in meeting the existing demand. Due to a lack of awareness, an inadequate health infrastructure, and ineffective disease prevention initiatives, the country is now more susceptible to the threat posed by a co-infection that has been found to be associated with more severe outcomes, marked by significant morbidity and mortality. The objective of this opinion piece is to explore the gravity of co-infection in Bangladesh, as well as the potential challenges to overcome and the preventative measures that need to be implemented to address the severity. This opinion piece proposes a set of modern preventative strategies that, when integrated with conventional methods, have the potential to mitigate disease severity, avert the occurrence of co-infection between COVID-19 and dengue, and halt the co-epidemics of COVID-19 and dengue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Proma Rani Das
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Asia Pacific, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sakif Ahamed Khan
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Asia Pacific, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Jannatul Mabia Rahman
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Asia Pacific, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Alam MS, Sultana R. Simultaneous COVID-19 Pandemic and Dengue Epidemic: A Double Challenge to Geriatric Health Security in Bangladesh. Health Secur 2023; 21:500-508. [PMID: 37890122 DOI: 10.1089/hs.2021.0219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Bangladesh faces distinct challenges as a resource-poor country due to the combined effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and simultaneous dengue outbreaks. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to infection and death from COVID-19. While overall health and life expectancy in the general population have improved substantially in Bangladesh, health services for older adults are still lacking. No specialized geriatric units have been established in hospitals, and no home care programs have been established for older adults. COVID-19 mortality rates were highest among older adults ages 61 to 70 years (35%), and 71 to 80 years (20%) in 2022. Although the country's average COVID-19 mortality rate was low at 1.76%, in older adults, it was much higher (55%), accounting for 14,797 deaths, despite that most cases (55%) were recorded in young adults. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bangladesh also experienced a dengue epidemic. Around 21,193 dengue patients were admitted to hospitals between January 1 and October 8, 2022. Without a well-established and all-encompassing social care program, the indirect socioeconomic burden of COVID-19 continues to fall on older adults. There is an immediate need for robust healthcare and support services, especially for older adults in Bangladesh, which are particularly susceptible to the dual threats posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the dengue epidemic. Recommendations are made to protect older adults from the devastating effects of the 2 simultaneous epidemics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Md Shafiul Alam
- Md. Shafiul Alam, PhD, is a Professor, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
| | - Rumana Sultana
- Rumana Sultana, PhD, is an Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science and Management, Independent University Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Esposito MM, Turku S, Lehrfield L, Shoman A. The Impact of Human Activities on Zoonotic Infection Transmissions. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13101646. [PMID: 37238075 DOI: 10.3390/ani13101646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
As humans expand their territories across more and more regions of the planet, activities such as deforestation, urbanization, tourism, wildlife exploitation, and climate change can have drastic consequences for animal movements and animal-human interactions. These events, especially climate change, can also affect the arthropod vectors that are associated with the animals in these scenarios. As the COVID-19 pandemic and other various significant outbreaks throughout the centuries have demonstrated, when animal patterns and human interactions change, so does the exposure of humans to zoonotic pathogens potentially carried by wildlife. With approximately 60% of emerging human pathogens and around 75% of all emerging infectious diseases being categorized as zoonotic, it is of great importance to examine the impact of human activities on the prevalence and transmission of these infectious agents. A better understanding of the impact of human-related factors on zoonotic disease transmission and prevalence can help drive the preventative measures and containment policies necessary to improve public health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Marie Esposito
- Department of Biology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island, New York, NY 10314, USA
- Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10314, USA
- Macaulay Honors College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10314, USA
| | - Sara Turku
- Department of Biology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island, New York, NY 10314, USA
- Macaulay Honors College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10314, USA
| | - Leora Lehrfield
- Department of Biology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island, New York, NY 10314, USA
- Macaulay Honors College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10314, USA
| | - Ayat Shoman
- Department of Biology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island, New York, NY 10314, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Patwary MM, Hossain MR, Sultana R, Dazhamyar AR, Parsa AD, Kabir R, Shoib S. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare professionals toward the novel coronavirus during the early stage of COVID-19 in a lower-and-middle income country, Bangladesh. Front Public Health 2022; 10:988063. [PMID: 36187704 PMCID: PMC9523603 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.988063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at an increased risk of COVID-19 infection because of their direct exposure to suspected and confirmed coronavirus patients in healthcare facilities. This condition is even more acute in low-and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs). Given the poor healthcare settings of Bangladesh, it is challenging to halt the spread of infection without proper knowledge, attitudes, and good behavioral practices (KAPs). Therefore, this study conducted a cross-sectional study from May 5 to 31, 2020, with 203 healthcare professionals to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward COVID-19. Participants were doctors, nurses, dentists, and allied health professionals. A self-administered questionnaire including several KAP-related items aligned with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines was distributed over various online platforms to collect data. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the factors influencing KAP levels. The majority of participants were male (52.22%). The prevalence of high knowledge levels, positive attitudes, and good practices were 51.23, 45.81, and 49.75%, respectively. Social media was the most common source for seeking coronavirus information. Workers at private institutions were less likely (OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.30-0.95, p < 0.05) to be knowledgeable than workers at public institutions. Doctors had more positive attitudes than other healthcare professionals. Older participants showed high rates of good behavioral practices (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.06-1.32, p < 0.05) than younger ones. Workers at private institutions had a better practice level toward COVID-19 (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.17-3.83) than those at public institutions. These results point to the necessity for proper training programs for medical professionals that help them gain confidence to deliver the correct treatment to their patients and the need to implement preventative steps during pandemics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Mainuddin Patwary
- Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna, Bangladesh,Environmental Science Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh,*Correspondence: Muhammad Mainuddin Patwary
| | - Md. Riad Hossain
- Institute of Disaster Management, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Rabeya Sultana
- Environmental Science Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Ahmad Riaz Dazhamyar
- Mental Health & Disability Officer at Organization for Health Promotion & Management (OHPM), Kabul, Afghanistan,Ahmad Riaz Dazhamyar
| | - Ali Davod Parsa
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, United Kingdom
| | - Russell Kabir
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, United Kingdom
| | - Sheikh Shoib
- Department of Psychiatry, Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Hospital, Kashmir, India
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Karbalaei M, Keikha M. Chikungunya, zika, and dengue: Three neglected re-emerging Aedes-borne diseases. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2022; 81:104415. [PMID: 36042927 PMCID: PMC9420495 DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Karbalaei
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran
| | - Masoud Keikha
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| |
Collapse
|