We should not dismiss the possibility of eradicating COVID-19: comparisons with smallpox and polio.
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TLDR
The definition of key disease control terms from the Dahlem Workshop on Public Health Control as mentioned in this paper was used to define elimination and eradication of disease as the ultimate goals of public health.Abstract:
Elimination and eradication of disease are among the ultimate goals of public health1 (for definitions see box 1). Vaccination has globally eradicated smallpox, rinderpest (a cattle disease that caused famines2) and two of the three serotypes of poliovirus.3 Three other vaccine-preventable diseases are eradicable globally with current technology,4 with measles the leading contender and with MMR vaccination potentially eradicating mumps and rubella at the same time. Some other diseases are close to being eradicated but without use of vaccines such as with the Guinea Worm Eradication Programme.5 Similarly, China has recently eliminated malaria with a range of non-vaccination tools, to become the 40th country to be certified malaria-free.6
Box 1
Definitions of key disease control terms from the Dahlem Workshop19
Control: The reduction of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity or mortality to a locally acceptable level as a result of deliberate efforts; continued intervention measures are required to maintain the reduction. Example: diarrhoeal diseases.
Elimination of disease: Reduction to zero of the incidence of a specified disease in a defined geographical area as a result of deliberate efforts; continued intervention measures are required. Example: neonatal tetanus.
Elimination of infections: Reduction to zero of the incidence of infection caused by a specific agent in a defined geographical area as a result of deliberate efforts; continued measures to prevent re-establishment of transmission are required. Example: measles, poliomyelitis.
Eradication: Permanent reduction to zero of the worldwide incidence of infection caused by a specific agent as a result of deliberate efforts; intervention measures are no longer needed. Example: smallpox.
Extinction: The specific infectious agent no longer exists in nature or in the laboratory. Example: none.
Is COVID-19 also potentially eradicable? Or is it inevitably endemic having established itself across the world? Commentators have focused on the challenges of reaching population (herd) immunity,7 yet population immunity is not essential and was not achieved for smallpox, which was eradicated through ring vaccination.
As proof of concept for COVID-19 eradication, several countries and jurisdictions have achieved elimination without vaccination, using new and established public health and social measures (PHSMs) (eg, border control, physical distancing, mask wearing, testing and contact tracing supported by genome sequencing).8 Successful jurisdictions have included those with vast land borders such as China, high population densities such as Hong Kong,9 but also island nations such as Iceland and New Zealand, although with occasional outbreaks from border control failures that have been brought under control.10read more
Citations
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The Evolving Faces of the SARS-CoV-2 Genome.
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Experiences and Challenges of Emerging Online Health Services Combating COVID-19 in China: Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study of Internet Hospitals
TL;DR: The COVID-19 pandemic has spawned the explosive growth of telehealth; as a public tertiary internet hospital, the SAHZU internet hospital is partially and irreversibly integrated into the traditional medical system.
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Possibility of COVID-19 eradication with evolution of a new omicron variant
TL;DR: In this article , the authors summarized major view on these questions and concludes that multiple approach including social behavioural measures, vaccination and antiviral drug would speed up elimination process and concluded that multiple approaches including vaccination, antiviral drugs and social behavioral measures, including vaccination and anti-viral drug, would accelerate the elimination process of COVID-19.
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The clinical and bioinformatics analysis for the role of antihypertension drugs on mortality among patients with hypertension hospitalized with COVID‐19
Liyang Zhao,Yusi Li,Wenjuan Yi,Kuo Yan,Chao Yang,Sridhar Radhakrishnan,Rui Li,Ruirong Tan,Gang Fan,Meng-Yuan Dai,Miao Liu,Ning-Yi Shao +11 more
TL;DR: Based on the analysis of four public data sets of single‐cell RNA‐Seq on COVID‐19 patients, it is concluded that JUN, LST1 genes may play a role in the effect of ARB on CO VID‐19‐related mortality, whereas CALM1 gene may contribute to the effects of CCB.
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Voluntary suspension of medically-assisted reproduction during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: a nationwide internet survey
TL;DR: In this article , the authors explored whether coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related distress was associated with voluntary suspension of medically-assisted reproduction (MAR) treatment from April to May 2020 in Japan.
References
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The principles of disease elimination and eradication.
TL;DR: The Dahlem Workshop discussed the hierarchy of possible public health interventions in dealing with infectious diseases, which were defined as control, elimination of disease, removal of infections, eradication, and extinction.
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed that some variants of concern may emerge with dangerous resistance to the immunity generated by the current vaccines to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).