As of now, it's highly likely that the COVID-19 outbreak will reach your community sooner or later. According to the CDC, as of April 21, there were 802,583 confirmed cases and 44,575 deaths across 50 states and five territories in the U.S. With the situation evolving rapidly, it's crucial to stay updated on the latest developments to effectively prepare and respond to this unprecedented challenge.
To better understand the potential impact on communities and healthcare workers, comparing COVID-19 to past epidemics can be insightful. Below is a brief overview of how COVID-19 compares to Ebola, SARS, and MERS:
**Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)**
- **Distribution**: The 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak was primarily concentrated in West Africa, whereas the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has seen 3,453 cases as of March 24, though no new cases have been reported since February 17.
- **Infections**: During the 2014-2016 outbreak, there were 28,616 confirmed cases.
- **Fatalities**: The DRC outbreak has resulted in 2,264 deaths so far, while the 2014-2016 outbreak claimed 11,310 lives.
- **Response**: The current response aims to stop transmission entirely, manage residual risks, and support health system recovery.
**Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV)**
- **Distribution**: The 2003 SARS outbreak spread to over two dozen countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.
- **Infections**: A total of 8,098 cases were recorded globally, with only eight cases confirmed in the U.S.
- **Fatalities**: SARS caused 774 deaths worldwide.
- **Response**: The CDC collaborated with WHO and others, offering assistance to local health departments, issuing public health alerts, and activating an emergency operations center for round-the-clock support.
**Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)**
- **Distribution**: Cases have been reported in 27 countries since its emergence in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
- **Infections**: Since September 2012, WHO has documented 2,494 confirmed cases.
- **Fatalities**: There have been 858 fatalities, resulting in a fatality rate of about 35%.
- **Response**: WHO worked with affected nations and partners to conduct risk assessments, joint investigations, and develop guidance for health authorities.
**COVID-19**
- **Distribution**: As of April 22, Google's interactive map shows that COVID-19 has spread to over 200 countries, areas, or territories worldwide.
- **Infections**: Globally, there were 2,471,136 confirmed cases as of April 22, compared to just 80,000 cases mentioned in our last post on February 27.
- **Fatalities**: Worldwide, 169,006 lives have been lost due to COVID-19.
- **Response**: On March 11, WHO declared the outbreak a pandemic, prompting widespread measures like mass quarantines. They also launched an R&D blueprint to accelerate diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments.
In these challenging times, ensuring your team has access to high-quality personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential. WHO recommends healthcare workers directly caring for patients use gloves, gowns, medical masks, and eye protection, along with proper hand hygiene practices.
At Ventyv®, we've focused on reducing infection spread by developing a line of single-use gloves designed to provide robust protection. If you'd like to experience the quality firsthand, contact us for a free sample of our new exam gloves. Alternatively, subscribe to our blog to stay informed with the latest insights and tips on infection prevention.
Stay safe and informed!
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