The World Health Organization's Actions Within the United Nations System to Facilitate a Whole-of-Society Response to COVID-19 at Country Level

Article Medicine, General & Internal

Epidemiological, clinical, and public health response characteristics of a large outbreak of diphtheria among the Rohingya population in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, 2017 to 2019: A retrospective study

Jonathan A. Polonsky et al.

Summary: The background unrest in Myanmar in August 2017 led to the displacement of over 700,000 Rohingya refugees to crowded camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, resulting in a large outbreak of diphtheria. Data from mass vaccination campaigns, contact tracing, and treatment centers were used to describe the epidemiological and clinical features of the outbreak. With 7,064 reported cases between November 2017 and November 2019, the outbreak mainly affected children with a low case fatality ratio. High population density, poor living conditions, and fast growth rates contributed to the rapid spread of the outbreak, with mass vaccination campaigns showing modest reductions in transmission.

PLOS MEDICINE (2021)

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Letter Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

COVID-19 response during the winter season in Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh

Md Bayezid Islam et al.

JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE (2021)

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Review Multidisciplinary Sciences

The health response to the Rohingya refugee crisis post August 2017: Reflections from two years of health sector coordination in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh

Rosanna Jeffries et al.

Summary: This paper discusses the impact of the unprecedented influx of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar into Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district on health sector coordination from August 2017 to October 2019. It highlights selected achievements and persisting challenges, such as establishing minimum service standards for primary health care, prioritizing sexual and reproductive health services, and adopting novel approaches for infectious disease responses. Despite remaining challenges, the health sector demonstrated effective collaboration and leadership skills in the response.

PLOS ONE (2021)

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Editorial Material Medicine, General & Internal