Abstract
Countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) are predisposed to highly contagious, severe and fatal, emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), and re-emerging infectious diseases (RIDs). This paper reviews the epidemiological situation of EIDs and RIDs of global concern in the EMR between 2001 and 2018. To do a narrative review, a complete list of studies in the field was we prepared following a systematic search approach. Studies that were purposively reviewed were identified to summarize the epidemiological situation of each targeted disease. A comprehensive search of all published studies on EIDs and RIDs between 2001 and 2018 was carried out through search engines including Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Leishmaniasis, hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) are reported from all countries in the region. Chikungunya, Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), dengue fever, and H5N1 have been increasing in number, frequency, and expanding in their geographic distribution. Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), which was reported in this region in 2012 is still a public health concern. There are challenges to control cholera, diphtheria, leishmaniasis, measles, and poliomyelitis in some of the countries. Moreover, Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever (AHF), and Rift Valley fever (RVF) are limited to some countries in the region. Also, there is little information about the real situation of the plague, Q fever, and tularemia. EIDs and RIDs are prevalent in most countries in the region and could further spread within the region. It is crucial to improve regional capacities and capabilities in preventing and responding to disease outbreaks with adequate resources and expertise.
Highlights
Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are those that have recently appeared within a population or those whose incidence or geographic range is rapidly increasing or threatens to increase shortly
This paper aims to review the epidemiological situation of the EIDs and Re-emerging infectious diseases (RIDs) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) between 2001 and 2018
Viral Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases Acute hepatitis A and E: Except for a few published articles and outbreak reports, very limited data are available about the prevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) from countries in the EMR.[31]
Summary
Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are those that have recently appeared within a population or those whose incidence or geographic range is rapidly increasing or threatens to increase shortly. Re-emerging infectious diseases (RIDs) are those which were previously controlled, but have again risen to be a significant health threat.[1,2] The emergence of high-threat pathogenic diseases has increased in recent years globally.[2] Almost 75% of recently emerged diseases afflicting humans have a zoonotic origin.[2]. Many countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) are affected directly or indirectly by acute and protracted humanitarian emergencies, which have led to an unusually high number of internally displaced people and refugees living in overcrowded, overburdened camps, with little or no access to basic social and healthcare services.[3] Many factors are contributing to the emergence or re-emergence of high-threat pathogenic diseases including pathogen’s adaptation or resistance, host behavior such as migration, international travel, humananimal interaction, poverty, climate change, and industrial and economic development.[4]
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