Emergency Preparedness and Innovative Response Plan for Smooth Congregations during COVID-19 pandemic: An Urgent Need for Comprehensive Approaches to Tactically Resolve Risk of SARS-CoV-2 or MERS-CoV Transmission
Abstract
Viral pathogens are mounting day by day and it is anticipated that soon viruses would emerge as highly dangerous entities. Recent pandemic of COVID-19 due to Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused millions of deaths, and still situation is out of control worldwide. Multiple epidemics of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus MERS-CoV reported from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and 21 other countries within three years have influenced international health organizations for emergency preparedness and respose. After Saudi Arabia, second largest MERS-CoV outbreak occurred in the Republic of Korea which caused 186 infections and 36 deaths. Among Muslims, Hajj and Umrah are deeply engraved to their souls, and visiting Holy places of Makkah and Madinah (Cities of Saudi Arabia) is part of Religion Islam. Therefore restricted permission to visit such places is not the permanent solution and several challenges need to be tackled scientifically. By acquiring adequate vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 or similar viruses and adopting international health standards, the pandemic related threats can be rectified.
Keywords
Downloads
References
- Alghafli, Z.; Hatch, T.G.; Rose, A.H.; Abo-Zena, M.M.; Marks, L.D.; Dollahite, D.C. A Qualitative Study of Ramadan: A Month of Fasting, Family, and Faith. Religions 2019, 10, 123. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel10020123.
- Saeed, U., Uppal, S.R., Piracha, Z.Z. et al. Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 antigen-based rapid diagnostic kits in Pakistan: formulation of COVID-19 national testing strategy. Virol J 18, 34 (2021).
- Saeed, U., Uppal, S.R., Piracha, Z.Z. et al. COVID-19 Transmission via Fomites at Low Temper-ature: A Potential Silent SARS-CoV-2 Propagation Route. Am J Biomed Sci & Res. 2021 - 12(1). AJBSR.MS.ID.001716.
- World Health Organization, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) (2016): Available online via: [http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/mers-cov/en/].
- Wikipedia, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) (2016): Available online via: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East_respiratory_syndrome_coronavirus].
- World Health Organization, Disease Outbreak News 8 Oct 2014. Online available via [www.who.int.]
- Hyun MH (2015). Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) to the Far East: Hospital Associated Outbreak in South Korea - Re: Why the panic? South Korea’s MERS response questioned. Online Available via: [http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h3403/rr]
- Roos R. Bangladesh has first MERS case. Online via [cidrap.umn.edu].
- BBC News 3 June 2014. Mers virus: Saudi Arabia raises death toll to 282. Online via: [http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27686037].
- AFP. Saudi Arabia bans hajj camel slaughter. 12 September 2015. Alarabiya News. Online via: [http://english.alarabiya.net/en/life-style/healthy-living/2015/09/12/Saudi-Arabia-bans-hajj-camel-slaughter.html
- S.Korea Hospital in Center of MERS Outbreak to Resume Services. Online via: [m.voanews.com/a/south-korea-hopital-in-mers-outbreak-to-resume-services/286610.html].
- Se-jeong K. Mutation found in MERS virus in Korea. 8 January 2016. Online via: [http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/01/116_195002.html].
- Basak S, Packirisamy G. Nano-based antiviral coatings to combat viral infections. Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects. 2020;24:100620. doi:10.1016/j.nanoso.2020.100620
- Mahad Mohamed (2018). Ihram of the future: Why this bacteria-killing cloth could have global health consequences. Available online [https://www.arabnews.com/node/1363236/saudi-arabia]