The Medical Journal of Basrah University

Background: Despite the passage of eight months since the start of COVID-19 pandemic, it still represents a major public health problem at global, regional and national levels.
Objective: To present comparative outcome indicators and time trends for the pandemic among countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and to discuss possible determinants behind such trends.
Methods: We used data on all newly reported cases of COVID-19 infection from the start of the pandemic in each EMR country till the middle of August, 2020. Two sources of data were used: the World Health Organization Website (Corona World meters) and a private website reporting cases world countries. Numbers were directly abstracted from these sources and Excel programme functions were used to make graphic presentations.
Results: As on August 5,2020 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region varied substantially in scale of the incidence rate per million population (from highest of 38939.1 in Qatar to lowest of 54.2 in Syria), the case fatality (closed case fatality ratio) ranged from Lowest of 0.2% in Qatar to the highest of 37.0% in Yemen. Cause-specific mortality rate ranged from 1.1 to 212.5 per million population in Jordan and Iran respectively. Testing policy was the main determinants of reported cases. None of the countries has reached a stage of clear exit based on scientific evidence despite the decline in the scale of cases in most countries.
Conclusion: Most of The countries are experiencing a pattern of accelerated pandemic and are heading towards declining trend.

Epidemiological Features of COVID-19 Epidemic in Basrah-Southern Iraq-First Report
Abstract
Background: COVID- 19 expanded from an outbreak in China to a devastating pandemic across the world. .
Objective: To describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Basrah Province-Southern Iraq
Methods: Data were obtained from the Department of Public Health in Basrah and the daily communique of the Ministry of Health. Data on population were obtained from the Ministry of Planning. For all provinces the total number of cases and their fate in terms of being under treatment, cured or died was obtained. For cases in Basrah, data on age, sex, residence, fate, travel history and presence of co-morbidity for 152 cases.
Results: In Basrah, The mean age was 46 years (Median 45 years) and the range was 13-98 years. No difference in the risk of COVID-19 was related to sex. Geographical variation was inconclusive The time trend of the epidemic is modest in both new daily cases and in cumulative numbers. At one point in time (April 10) the incidence rate was 56.28 per million , which was at intermediate level among other provinces.
The total cases used for Iraq was 1279. The highest numbers were reported in Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil, Basrah and Sulaymaniyah.The lowest incidence rate was in Salah Al-Din (0.61 per million) and the highest was in Najaf (170.16 per million). The case fatality ratio for closed cases and for all cases was variable among provinces.
Conclusion: COVID-19 in Basrah and Iraq is modest until today the 10th of April 2020.