COVID-19 in the MENA Region: Facts and Findings
Introduction: Our study aims to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It aims also to examine the various factors that have led to the unequal distribution of the confirmed cases among the different MENA countries. Methodology: Data was retrieved fr...
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The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
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| Online Access: | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/14005 |
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| author | Nour K Younis Mira Rahm Fadi Bitar Mariam Arabi |
| author_facet | Nour K Younis Mira Rahm Fadi Bitar Mariam Arabi |
| author_sort | Nour K Younis |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Introduction: Our study aims to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It aims also to examine the various factors that have led to the unequal distribution of the confirmed cases among the different MENA countries.
Methodology: Data was retrieved from the World Health Organization situation reports issued between January 29 and June 5, 2020. It included the numbers of cumulative cases, new cases, and cumulative deaths reported by MENA countries. Similarly, we searched for relevant articles in PubMed and Medline.
Results: A total of 481,347 cases and 11,851 deaths occurred in the MENA region, accounting for 7.37% and 3.06% of the global cases and deaths respectively. Iran had the highest number of cases and deaths accounting for 34.1% and 68.1% of the MENA cases and deaths respectively. Together the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries accounted for 52.2% and 10.6% of MENA cases and deaths respectively. Egypt had the highest number of confirmed cases and deaths among the African countries of the region. Syria, Libya and Yemen (countries at war) had the lowest numbers of reported cases. The MENA region overall case fatality rate (CFR) was estimated at 2.46%. The highest CFR (22.75%) occurred in Yemen, and the lowest (0.07%) in Qatar.
Conclusions: The unequal distribution of wealth among the MENA countries, the lack of sociopolitical stability, and the high number of undetected and underreported cases in some of them have resulted in varied incidences of COVID-19 related morbidity and mortality.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7a3a2376f39d4d5fb48a7204ab8fa7c1 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1972-2680 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| spelling | doaj-art-7a3a2376f39d4d5fb48a7204ab8fa7c12025-08-20T02:57:21ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802021-03-01150310.3855/jidc.14005COVID-19 in the MENA Region: Facts and FindingsNour K Younis0Mira Rahm 1Fadi Bitar2Mariam Arabi3Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, LebanonPediatric department, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, LebanonFaculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, LebanonFaculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon Introduction: Our study aims to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It aims also to examine the various factors that have led to the unequal distribution of the confirmed cases among the different MENA countries. Methodology: Data was retrieved from the World Health Organization situation reports issued between January 29 and June 5, 2020. It included the numbers of cumulative cases, new cases, and cumulative deaths reported by MENA countries. Similarly, we searched for relevant articles in PubMed and Medline. Results: A total of 481,347 cases and 11,851 deaths occurred in the MENA region, accounting for 7.37% and 3.06% of the global cases and deaths respectively. Iran had the highest number of cases and deaths accounting for 34.1% and 68.1% of the MENA cases and deaths respectively. Together the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries accounted for 52.2% and 10.6% of MENA cases and deaths respectively. Egypt had the highest number of confirmed cases and deaths among the African countries of the region. Syria, Libya and Yemen (countries at war) had the lowest numbers of reported cases. The MENA region overall case fatality rate (CFR) was estimated at 2.46%. The highest CFR (22.75%) occurred in Yemen, and the lowest (0.07%) in Qatar. Conclusions: The unequal distribution of wealth among the MENA countries, the lack of sociopolitical stability, and the high number of undetected and underreported cases in some of them have resulted in varied incidences of COVID-19 related morbidity and mortality. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/14005MENAcoronavirusCOVID-19incidence |
| spellingShingle | Nour K Younis Mira Rahm Fadi Bitar Mariam Arabi COVID-19 in the MENA Region: Facts and Findings Journal of Infection in Developing Countries MENA coronavirus COVID-19 incidence |
| title | COVID-19 in the MENA Region: Facts and Findings |
| title_full | COVID-19 in the MENA Region: Facts and Findings |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 in the MENA Region: Facts and Findings |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 in the MENA Region: Facts and Findings |
| title_short | COVID-19 in the MENA Region: Facts and Findings |
| title_sort | covid 19 in the mena region facts and findings |
| topic | MENA coronavirus COVID-19 incidence |
| url | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/14005 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nourkyounis covid19inthemenaregionfactsandfindings AT mirarahm covid19inthemenaregionfactsandfindings AT fadibitar covid19inthemenaregionfactsandfindings AT mariamarabi covid19inthemenaregionfactsandfindings |