15 minute read
A New Strain of Coronavirus
More infectious but not more deadly
The new year has begun amid severe fears due to the emergence of a new strain of coronavirus, which has remarkably affected the world over the past year, so many countries have imposed again more stringent precautionary measures in order to limit the rapid spread of this strain, which appears to be more infectious.
Scientists believe that the emergence of the new strain of coronavirus is significantly more contagious than other strains. The United Kingdom is the first to have witnessed the emergence of the new coronavirus strain, urging some countries to impose travel restrictions. A new strain of coronavirus identified in the United Kingdom is up to 70% more infectious but it is not thought to be more deadly and vaccines should still be effective. SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes Covid-19 is evolving and mutating all the time, as do all similar viruses. Such changes are completely to be expected. Just because there has been a small change in the virus’ genetic make-up this does not mean it is any more virulent, nor that vaccines won’t be effective. When a virus replicates or makes copies of itself, it sometimes changes a little bit. These changes are called “mutations.” A virus SCIENTISTS BELIEVE THAT THE EMERGENCE OF THE NEW STRAIN OF CORONAVIRUS IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN OTHER STRAINS.
with one or several new mutations is referred to as a “variant” of the original virus. It’s been snappily named VUI-202012/01 (the first “Variant Under Investigation” in December 2020) and is defined by a set of 17 changes or mutations. One of the most significant is an N501Y mutation in the spike protein that the virus uses to bind to the human ACE2 receptor. Changes in this part of spike protein may, in theory, result in the virus becoming more infectious and spreading more easily between people.
There are about 23 genetic changes in this new strain; the mutations in the new strain seem to affect the coronavirus’s spike proteins, which cover the outer coating of the SARSCoV-2 coronavirus and give it its characteristic spiny appearance. These proteins help the virus attach to human cells in the nose and other areas and invade the body, causing COVID-19 illness. But it is not the first time that the coronavirus has mutated, since its first emergence in late 2019, and the virus that was first discovered in the Chinese city of Wuhan is not the same virus that is now spreading around the world.
Viruses are always changing. When a virus infects a cell, it begins making copies of its genetic instructions. Most viruses don’t have the necessary tools to proofread each string of RNA for mistakes, so the process is error-prone and differences build up over time.
Coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2, on the other hand, do have a proofreading enzyme — a rarity for RNA viruses. But that doesn’t mean their genomes don’t have errors. Changes still accumulate, just more slowly than in other RNA viruses such as influenza. “Strains,” “variants” or “lineages” are all terms researchers might use to describe viruses that have identical or closely related strings of RNA.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, explained that there is no evidence that the new strain of the coronavirus causes serious disease or death.
The Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Program, Mike Ryan, confirmed that although the new strain is spreading more quickly than previously known strains, the transmission of infection is not as fast as infection with measles, mumps and smallpox. He also said that the situation is not out of control, but it cannot be allowed to spread, urging countries to implement previously tried and tested health measures. The World Health Organization indicated that every ten people infected with the new strain of the virus can transmit the infection to 15 others on average, while the rate of transmission of infection with the previously known strains in Britain reaches 11 people.
Are symptoms the same?
Researchers continue to study the effects of the new strain of coronavirus, but so far studies have proven that the symptoms are the same, as most of the cases recorded so far have the same typical symptoms of nausea, loss of smell, dry cough, fever, body aches and chills.
The fast-moving new variant of the virus is 70% more transmissible than existing strains, and appears to be driving a rapid spike in new infections in London and southern England.
Will the new vaccines be effective against the new strains of COVID-19?
As the coronavirus continues to spread around the world, it will often continue to mutate and develop new strains over time, and therefore it is difficult to predict its future mutations or changes, as it may form strains that won’t be affected by the current vaccines, which puts scientists in a situation similar to influenza as the influenza vaccine needs to be developed periodically, and fortunately the current (Covid-19) vaccines can be easily developed.
The aim of the vaccines is to train our immune systems to recognize these viruses or bacteria as “other” and create immune cells against them that will reactivate when we come across them in real life, killing them before they have a chance to make us ill.
Optimistic Outlook for a Prosperous 2021
By Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of the Frontline Heroes Office
Last year has been long and challenging for the vast majority of us and we have seen so many heroes, across different sectors work tirelessly to curb the effects of the pandemic.
Looking ahead, 2021 marks the build-up to the UAE’s Golden Jubilee, a moment that marks collective optimism for our shared future whilst maintaining the knowledge that life will never again be quite the same, and nor do we want it to. In the midst of chaos, the pandemic brought with it clarity and a wealth of experience, and what a lost opportunity it would be if we as a nation reverted back to life as we lived it pre-pandemic, and we were to overlook our most invaluable guardians who have put their personal health at risk to protect the lives of citizens and residents of the UAE
Throughout 2021 and thereafter, the Frontline Heroes Office will continue to go beyond listening to the concerns of frontline professionals by creating opportunities for us all to celebrate our national heroes to ensure that they will never be unsung again. We invite all government entities, businesses, and social support groups to unite with us to develop new programmes that support and provide for our frontline heroes. The Office will continue its mandate of finding nation-wide solutions to ensure a prosperous and stable future for our frontline heroes. WHEN THE FRONTLINE HEROES OFFICE WAS ESTABLISHED IN JULY BY PRESIDENTIAL DECREE UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH MOHAMED BIN ZAYED AL NAHYAN, CROWN PRINCE OF ABU DHABI AND DEPUTY SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE UAE ARMED FORCES, TWO CENTRAL IMPERATIVES WERE EVIDENT.
Through various upcoming initiatives, we aim to address essential needs for our heroes and their children across multiple areas such as higher education, mental and psychological wellbeing, housing and healthcare. When the Frontline Heroes Office was established in July by Presidential Decree under the Chairmanship of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, two central imperatives were evident.
The first is that as a nation we must recognise, celebrate and support our frontline heroes and their families. We need to understand the unique circumstances and challenges they face when asked day in and day out to put their personal safety at risk for the greater societal good. And we need to unite to help alleviate the stresses they endure, to best enable them to deliver the service and protection we ask of them.
The second imperative is that we need to continuously invest in, develop, train and maintain a world-class emergency and disaster management network that is always ready to respond and protect us from all types of potential emergency situations.
While forming the Frontline Heroes Office, we started by listening and learning. We wanted to hear directly from our frontline professionals about the challenges and stresses they faced and what we could do to help alleviate them.
We built the principle of partnerships into the ethos of the Office because we saw a great opportunity to harness the strength and expertise of an incredibly wide range of resources across our government, business community and social services sector to deliver immediate support for our frontline heroes, while investing in a sustainable emergency preparedness and response network.
Most recently we launched the new Jaheziya emergency response preparedness and training
programme. This best-in-class training initiative was developed in partnership with the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Volunteer Programme and a group of prominent US and UK disaster management institutions. It will provide internationally accredited critical care and life-saving certification that will contribute to the UAE’s ability to maintain a sustainable network of highly trained frontline professionals to protect our nation and its people in the face of any future emergency.
Several partnerships have directly addressed the concerns put forward by frontline heroes, for example: • With Emirates Foundation and the Ministry of Community Development, COVID-19 Vaccination Centers in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and one in Dubai, for members of the community who wish to receive the Beijing Institute of Biological Product’s inactivated vaccine.
The COVID-19 Vaccination Centers, located in Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal in Abu Dhabi City and Al Ain Convention Center in Al Ain City, have the collective capacity to administer vaccine shots to 6,000 people daily, and were established in a record time of four days. The centers were established following the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention’s (MOHAP) announcement of the registration of the vaccine, making the country one of the first in the world to administer a COVID-19 vaccine to the community. In Dubai, the COVID-19 Vaccination Center is located at Dubai Parks & Resorts Field Hospital and has the capacity to accommodate 3,000 people daily.
The Sinopharm CNBG COVID-19 vaccine will be also administered within select SEHA facilities, including 35 Ambulatory Health Services (AHS) facilities in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, 6 hospitals in the Al Dhafrah region, Al Ain and Al Dhafrah, SEHA’s National Screening Center in we rolled out an innovative new mental health support initiative, addressing one of the highest priorities our frontline heroes told us they need. With the Ministry of Education, we launched Hayyakum to provide scholarships to more than 2,000 children of frontline heroes that extend throughout their education in the UAE. With Daman, we launched an AED 20 million programme to upgrade health insurance plans for the 10,000 lowest earning frontline heroes and their families as well as to provide 2,500 frontline professionals with mental health insur-
SEHA commences the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine to the UAE community at 40 locations
Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, (SEHA), the UAE’s largest healthcare network, has announced the opening of two
ance coverage. UAE NATIONALS AND RESIDENTS WISHING TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE CAN VISIT ANY OF THE CENTERS IN ABU DHABI EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK, FROM 8:00AM TO 8:00PM. THE COVID-19 VACCINATION CENTER IN DUBAI IS OPEN DAILY FROM 8:00AM TO 4:00PM AS WALK-IN OR BY APPOINTMENT THROUGH THE SEHA APP.
Mina Rashid and Khawaneej in Dubai city, and existent screening centers in industrial areas, with an overall capacity of 150,000.
The registration of the Sinopharm CNBG COVID-19 vaccine follows the success of the Phase 3 Clinical Trials, which began in Abu Dhabi and was overseen by MOHAP and the DoH, managed by G42 Healthcare, and administered by SEHA. 31,000 volunteers took part in the clinical trials, the analysis of which proved the inactivated vaccine’s 86% efficacy against the COVID-19 virus and was followed by the administration of the vaccine to emergency personnel and frontline healthcare workers.
The new centers are each divided into two zones – one for each dose, with every zone including 24 vaccination stations. Visitors to the COVID-19 Vaccination Centers and other SEHA facilities administering the vaccine will first register and then undergo a vital checkup, including blood pressure, height, weight, and temperature. Women will also be required to conduct a pregnancy test. Following the examination, visitors will undergo an assessment to confirm their eligibility and sign a consent form, after which, they will be given the first dose. After receiving the first dose, they will receive their appointment for the second dose, administered three to four weeks after the first dose.
Bupa Arabia received reputable awards and listing in 2020
Bupa Arabia's distinctive and diverse health insurance programs and product offerings set the company apart from the rest, making it a health insurance leader in the region
Bupa Arabia for Cooperative Insurance continued its exceptional track record of successes in 2020, winning a string of coveted awards at local, regional and international levels. The company has been ranked as the top insurer in the region by Forbes ME’s annual rankings.
The leading health insurer is ending 2020 on a high note as it has just been named as the "Health Insurance Company of the Year" by the Middle East Insurance Industry (MEII) Awards; organized by the Middle East Insurance Industry Review and audited by Ernst & Young.
The organizers chose Bupa Arabia for its pioneering health insurance programs and diverse insurance products, such as Bupa Munsha'at, which is the first health insurance program offered to medium and small enterprises in the Arab region.
Tal Nazer, CEO of Bupa Arabia for Cooperative Insurance and member of the Board of Directors, attributed the achievements to the company’s efforts to be an effective health partner for its clients by providing unique OUR ACHIEVEMENTS ARE IN LINE WITH THE HEALTHCARE OBJECTIVES OF VISION 2030 AS WELL AS THE COMPANY'S STRATEGIC VISION FOR 2020.
healthcare services and health insurance products. Bupa Arabia’s products are designed to meet the needs of government institutions, and the private sector, including large-, medium- and small-scale companies, in addition to families and individuals. “Our success is in line with Vision 2030 objectives, which include improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare services along with the company's strategic vision for 2020," Nazer added.
Earlier this year, Bupa Arabia was ranked No. 1 among the most valuable insurance companies in the region by Forbes Middle East 2020, and listed among the Middle East's top 100 companies in 2020. Brand Finance, a leading and independent global company in the field of rating and evaluation of brands, ranked Bupa Arabia among the 50 most valuable brands in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2020.
Additionally, Bupa Arabia was recognized in two categories by the Business Global Outlook magazine. The first was “Best Healthcare Insurance Service Provider in Saudi Arabia in 2020,” and the second was the “Best Digital Innovation in Insurance Sector.” The winners were chosen after an extensive evaluation by a group of international analysts specializing in the insurance sector. Continuing the honors were the Gulf Sustainability and CSR Awards 2020, which recognized Bupa Arabia as the "Best Workplace" and for its HR practices. The prestigious awards recognize companies in the region with policies that show respect and regard for employees, including policies promoting diversity in the workplace, family-friendly policies, regard for work-life balance, and health and wellness.
Finally, Bupa Arabia was named by the International Finance Magazine (IFM) of the UK, as the "Best Health Insurance Company" and "Best Investor Relations Insurance Company" in Saudi Arabia for its implementation of the highest quality standards in the services and products provided to customers.
Saudi German Hospital Jeddah Successfully Performs Surgery on Patient with Elephantiasis
Saudi German Hospital in Jeddah successfully performed surgery on a 55-year-old man suffering from elephantiasis, which included an enlarged testicle weighing over 40 kilograms and swelling in the legs which was affecting his ability lead a normal life for the past four years. The surgery, which used the latest technology and the most advanced medical equipment, was led by Dr. Ihab Saad, Head of Surgery Department at Saudi German Hospital-Jeddah and was supported by a multidisciplinary team from Urology, Plastic Surgery and Anesthesia.
The condition includes the enlargement and hardening of limbs or body parts caused by tissue swelling and may also affect the genital area as well. Dr. Saad and his team of surgeons removed the testicle cyst in a ground breaking surgery that lasted for four hours. Post-surgery, the patient spent time in recovery to regain his health and strength, in order to resume normal life.
Dr. Ihab Saad said, “We are pleased to announce the success of this very delicate
The Department of General Surgery and Oncology at Saudi German HospitalJeddah performs various advanced surgeries, which include liver transplant surgeries, heated intraperitoneal therapy for peritoneal carcinomatosis, in addition to liver, colon, stomach, pancreatic and biliary cancer surgeries. The department also offers breast cancer, thyroid, endocrine and soft tissue surgeries, aside from various general surgery operations, whether open or laparoscopic.
surgical procedure, especially after several medical institutions and facilities refused to treat the patient's condition due to the high risk posed by surgery. However, we performed the operation using the latest medical technologies available under the supervision of a highly qualified and professional medical team. The success of this procedure is a key addition to the many achievements of Saudi German Hospitals (SGH) Group--reflecting the Group's high-level facilities, advanced medical equipment and worldclass capabilities of its doctors in performing complex surgeries.” “We, at SGH Group, provide the most advanced surgical and therapeutic services across various specialties, backed by medical teams of high-level professionals who are qualified as per the highest international standards, to meet the various health needs of the patients and provide them with comprehensive treatments. We are committed to providing our patients with the latest and most successful treatments that enable them to enjoy a healthy life, while strengthening the Group’s position as a leader in the field of healthcare in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” concluded Dr. Saad.
