#Covid-19: risk factors for severe disease and death Re. Need For World/International Infectious Diseases Day By WHO - M.A.Aleem BMJ 2020;368:m1198

Bmj British Medical Journal  26th March 2020

Editorials

Covid-19: risk factors for severe disease and death

BMJ 2020; 368 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1198 (Published 26 March 2020)

Cite this as: BMJ 2020;368:m1198

Rapid response

Re: Covid-19: risk factors for severe disease and death

Dear Editor

Need For World/International Infectious Diseases Day By WHO

As of today, 3.4.2020, the coronavirus COVID-19 is reported in 204 countries and territories around the world and 2 international conveyances: the Diamond Princess cruise ship harbored in Yokohama, Japan, and the Holland America's MS Zaandam cruise ship. Globally over 1 Million (1 039 922) people were reported positive for this rapidly spreading COVID-19 infection through contact and by air borne route.

United states of America tops the list of the number of people (245 442) infected with COVID-19. Italy as of today lead the table with greatest number of death (13 915) in the world due to COVID-19 infection.

The death rate of this 2020 coronavirus Pandemic infection is 20% (55 170) and the recovery rate is 80% (222 240) as of 3.4.2020.

From this week the number of infected people started declining in Asia, Africa and Australasia.

More cases are reported in America and in a few countries in the European continent.

Risk factors for getting the COVID-19 infection and its progression may differ from individual to individual and country to country.

Acquiring the COVID-19 infection and its progression may depend on climatic conditions, individual 's genetic factors, immunological status, nutritional status, behaviours, habits, addiction to substances, drug intake and other associated comorbid diseases status.

We hope that personal hygiene and keeping the social distance are really giving benefits in preventing the COVID-19 spread in the community.

At this juncture I want to request the World Health Organisation, the apex body for Global Health, to consider and declare JANUARY 11th (When the first death was recorded from Wuhan, China, due to COVID-19 Pandemic) as "INTERNATIONAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES DAY". Every year a theme can be adopted on this day to increase awareness of infectious diseases globally.

Each and every country in the world has started the fight against COVID-19 from January 1st, 2020. So WHO should also consider announcing the year 2020 as the YEAR FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES to continue the mitigation measures and fight against coronavirus throughout this year in every country.

 

Competing interests: No competing interests

03 April 2020

M.A. Aleem

Emeritus Professor of Neurology * Visiting Specialist in Neurology ** Consultant Neurologist ***

The Tamilnadu Dr.M.G.R. Medical University * Dhanalakshami Srinivasan Medical College ** ABC Hospital ***

Chennai 600032* Perambalure 621212** Trichy 620018*** Tamilnadu India

@drmaaleem