Dawadi Prabin, Syangtan Gopiram, Lama Bhupendra, Kanel Sushil R, Raj Joshi Dev, Pokhrel Lok R, Adhikari Rameshwar, Joshi Hem R, Pavel Ioana
Biological Resources Unit, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Lalitpur, Bagmati, Nepal.
Central Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Bagmati, Nepal.
Environ Health Insights. 2022 Jun 7;16:11786302221104348. doi: 10.1177/11786302221104348. eCollection 2022.
The pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), one of the most infectious diseases in the modern history, is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has had a profound health and economic toll, globally. This paper identifies the overall health status associated with COVID-19 pandemic in all 7 provinces of Nepal, a developing country in South Asia, analyzing data from January 2020 to February 2022. It focuses on the SARS-CoV-2 prevalence, transmission through wastewater and other routes, diagnostics, treatment options, and alternative medicines, thereby offering key perspectives for its management.
Studies regarding coronavirus spanning the 2017 to 2022 period were searched on the web, Nepalese database, and Web of Science. Refined criteria included SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater of Nepal or worldwide. Demographic data (sex, age-group, and geographic location) were also obtained from websites and relevant reports of the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) of Nepal, ranging from January 2020 to February 2022. Moreover, trends concerning lockdown, business, and border activities in Nepal between February 2020 and October 2020 were evaluated. The viral dissemination pathways, diagnosis, and available treatment options, including the Ayurvedic medicine, were also examined.
Aerosols generated during the hospital, industrial, recreational, and household activities were found to contribute to the propagation of SARS-CoV-2 into environmental wastewater, thereby putting the surrounding communities at risk of infection. When lockdown ended and businesses opened in October 2020, the number of active cases of COVID-19 increased exponentially. Bagmati Province had the highest number of cases (53.84%), while the remaining 6 provinces tallied 46.16%. Kathmandu district had the highest number of COVID-19 cases (138, 319 cases), while Manang district had the smallest number of infections (81 cases). The male population was found to be predominantly infected (58.7%). The most affected age groups were the 31 to 40 years old males (25.92%) and the 21 to 30 years old females (26.85%).
The pandemic impacted the public health and economic growth in our study duration. SARS-CoV-2 was prevalent in the wastewater of Nepal. The Terai districts and the megacities were mostly affected by SARS-CoV-2 infections. Working-age groups and males were identified as the highest risk groups. More investigations on the therapeutic and alternative cures are recommended. These findings may guide the researchers and professionals with handling the COVID-19 challenges in developing countries such as Nepal and better prepare for future pandemics.
2019年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行是现代历史上传染性最强的疾病之一，由严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）引起，在全球范围内造成了巨大的健康和经济损失。本文分析了2020年1月至2022年2月的数据，确定了南亚发展中国家尼泊尔所有7个省份与COVID-19大流行相关的总体健康状况。它关注SARS-CoV-2的流行情况、通过废水和其他途径的传播、诊断、治疗选择以及替代药物，从而为其管理提供关键视角。
在网络、尼泊尔数据库和科学网搜索了2017年至2022年期间关于冠状病毒的研究。细化标准包括尼泊尔或全球废水中的SARS-CoV-2。人口统计数据（性别、年龄组和地理位置）也从尼泊尔卫生与人口部（MOHP）的网站和相关报告中获取，时间跨度为2020年1月至2022年2月。此外，评估了2020年2月至2020年10月尼泊尔的封锁、商业和边境活动趋势。还研究了病毒传播途径、诊断方法和可用的治疗选择，包括阿育吠陀医学。
发现医院、工业、娱乐和家庭活动中产生的气溶胶有助于SARS-CoV-2传播到环境废水中，从而使周围社区面临感染风险。2020年10月封锁结束且企业开业后，COVID-19的活跃病例数呈指数级增长。加德满都省病例数最多（53.84%），其余6个省份占46.16%。加德满都区COVID-19病例数最多（138,319例），而马囊区感染病例数最少（81例）。发现男性人群感染居多（58.7%）。受影响最严重的年龄组是31至40岁男性（25.92%）和21至30岁女性（26.85%）。
在我们的研究期间，大流行对公共卫生和经济增长产生了影响。SARS-CoV-2在尼泊尔的废水中普遍存在。特莱地区和大城市受SARS-CoV-2感染影响最大。劳动年龄组和男性被确定为风险最高的群体。建议对治疗方法和替代疗法进行更多研究。这些发现可能会指导研究人员和专业人员应对尼泊尔等发展中国家的COVID-19挑战，并为未来的大流行做好更好的准备。
