The Rising Threat of Mucormycosis: Oman's Experience Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Mucormycosis is a rare, severe fungal infection mainly affecting immunocompromised individuals. Because of limited data on its epidemiology in Oman, we present this national, multicentric, retrospective review that includes all cases of proven mucormycosis between 2006 and 2022 in Oman. There were 51 cases of mucormycosis reported in Oman.

Investigating the Determinants of Dengue Outbreak in Oman: A Study in Seeb.

Objective: This study investigates the key factors contributing to the dengue outbreak in Oman.

Methods: Data on climate (e.g.

Time trend of respiratory viruses before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in severe acute respiratory virus infection in the Sultanate of Oman between 2017 and 2022.

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) is a potentially lethal condition, necessitating thorough medical care. COVID-19 underscored the SARI threat, but other high-risk pathogens require monitoring alongside SARS-CoV-2. Oman instituted a comprehensive testing system to gauge the prevalence of these pathogens between 2017 and 2021, aiding resource allocation and public health responses to potential respiratory pathogen outbreaks.

The Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in Hemodialysis Patients in Oman: A National Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: HCV infection in hemodialysis units is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The risk of HCV infection among dialysis patients is higher compared to the general population due to high potential blood exposures in hemodialysis settings. This study aims to assess the national HCV seroprevalence in selected dialysis units and to determine the risk factors for acquiring HCV infection.

A second local dengue fever outbreak: A field experience from Muscat Governorate in Oman, 2022.

Background: Dengue fever is an infectious disease of global health concern. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology and field experience of a locally transmitted outbreak of dengue fever in Muscat Governorate, Oman from mid-March to mid-April 2022, and the multi-sectoral approach to control the outbreak.

Methods: Data were collected from an electronic e-notification system, active surveillance and contact investigations.

Genomic and geospatial epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Oman: first national insight using whole genome sequencing.

Objectives: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is a global public health issue. Although Oman reduced the burden of tuberculosis (TB) by 85% in under 25 years, the annual incidence rate remains stagnant. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is used to investigate the transmission dynamics of MTB complex.

Comparative Performance Evaluation of the Public Health Surveillance Systems in 6 Gulf Cooperation Countries: Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Evaluating public health surveillance systems is important to ensure that events of public health importance are appropriately monitored. Evaluation studies based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines have been used to appraise surveillance systems globally. Previous evaluation studies undertaken in member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) were limited to specific illnesses within a single nation.

The impact of the acceleration of COVID-19 vaccine deployment in two border regions in Oman.

Background: Among the challenges to public health systems imposed by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been vaccine scarcity and the prioritization of high-risk groups. Countries have been prompted to accelerate the pace of immunization campaigns against COVID-19 to deploy the immunization umbrella to the largest possible number of target groups. In this paper, we share the perspective of Oman regarding the impact of accelerating the administration of the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in one border governorate (Musandam) by comparison to another border governorate (Al-Buraimi) where this approach was not applied.

The impact of the hand hygiene role model project on improving healthcare workers' compliance: A quasi-experimental observational study.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO)'s multimodal strategy for improving hand hygiene (HH) compliance was endorsed in 2009 and was implemented by every hospital in Oman. There was variation in adherence to the practice even within the same facility and in sustaining improvement after the intervention.

Objectives: Evaluate the impact of national HH role model project on health care worker's immediate and long term compliance with HH practices.

Challenges and Opportunities for Public Health Service in Oman From the COVID-19 Pandemic: Learning Lessons for a Better Future.

Despite the apparent challenges inflicted by COVID-19 globally, the pandemic provided an opportunity to utilize and expand existing public health capacities for a more adaptive and resilient system during and after each wave of the disease. This paper provides a narrative review of Oman's public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic from January 2020 to July 2021, and the challenges it faced for a more rapid and efficient response. The review demonstrates that the three main pillars influencing the direction of the pandemic and aiding the control are Oman's unified governmental leadership, the move to expand the capacity of the health care system at all levels, and community partnership in all stages of the response including the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

Predictors of late presentation and advanced HIV disease among people living with HIV in Oman (2000-2019).

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the proportions and predictors of late presentation (LP) and advanced HIV disease (AD) in Oman. LP and AD were defined as presenting with a baseline CD4 count of < 350 and < 200 cells/mm3, respectively.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective database analysis of the National HIV Surveillance System to identify Omani people (≥ 13 years old) who were diagnosed with HIV in the period between January 2000 and December 2019 and had a documented baseline CD4 cell count.

The Impact of Mobility Restriction Strategies in the Control of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Modelling the Relation between COVID-19 Health and Community Mobility Data.

Background: Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), particularly mobility restrictions, are mainstay measures for the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. We evaluated the effects of Oman's mobility restriction strategies to highlight their efficacy in controlling the pandemic.

Methods: Accessible national data of daily admissions and deaths were collected from 1 April 2020 to 22 May 2021.

The role of children and adolescents in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus within family clusters: A large population study from Oman.

Background: In Oman, many extended families tend to live in one household. Some families can include 20-30 individuals with the majority of them being children. This study investigates the role of children in spreading SARS-CoV-2 causing COVID-19 within family clusters in Oman.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the general population of Oman: results from four successive nationwide sero-epidemiological surveys.

Objective: To assess the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Oman and longitudinal changes in antibody levels over time within the first 11 months of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods: This nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted as a four-cycle serosurvey using a multi-stage stratified sampling method from July to November 2020. A questionnaire was used and included demographics, history of acute respiratory infection and list of symptoms, COVID-19 contact, previous diagnosis or admission, travel history and risk factors.

Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Oman: a success story from the Middle East.

Background: In January 2016, the National AIDS Programme (NAP) in Oman introduced a package of interventions, including capacity building for service providers, to improve the quality of HIV services.

Aims: To report the impact of these interventions on the rate of vertical HIV transmission in the period from January 2016 to December 2019. We also describe the virological and obstetric outcomes for HIV-infected pregnant women.

The role of supporting services in driving SARS-CoV-2 transmission within healthcare settings: A multicenter seroprevalence study.

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in healthcare workers (HCWs) based on risk of exposure to COVID-19 patients.

Method: This was a SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence cross-sectional study in risk-stratified HCWs randomly selected from three main district hospitals in Oman.

Results: 1078 HCWs were included, with an overall SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence of 21%.

Retention in HIV care and factors associated with loss to follow-up in Oman: a countrywide study from the Middle East.

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis to determine the rate of retention in HIV care and the factors associated with loss to follow-up (LTFU) among Omani adults living with HIV who were linked to care as of 31 December 2019. Patients ( = 1610) were identified from a central national HIV surveillance dataset. The majority (68.

Characteristics, Risk Factors, and Survival Analysis of Cases: Results of One-Year National Surveillance Data from Oman.

Background: () is an emerging healthcare-associated pathogen resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to report data from the national surveillance system for 2019 and conduct a survival analysis of the reported cohort.

Methods: a retrospective analysis was conducted for all cases reported nationally to the Oman Antimicrobial Surveillance System (OMASS) in 2019, and isolates were sent to the Central Public Health Laboratories (CPHL).

Effects of COVID-19 on mortality: A 5-year population-based study in Oman.

Background: Mortality surveillance provides a crucial method for monitoring disease activity. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause excess mortality both directly and indirectly by increasing deaths from other diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on mortality in Oman.