The FDMIN lead Dr Peter Patel has been keeping an eye on potential outbreaks of infectious diseases as part of the faculty’s training programme on Epidemics and Pandemics. Except for reports of sporadic outbreaks of MERS and SARS in middle east and far east, Ebola outbreak in Africa and Zika virus spread around the world, in India most of the focus was and some anxiety on detecting spread of swine flu (influenza A virus – H1N1) and potential bird flu (H5N1, H7N9, H5N6 and H5N8). Swine flu epidemics became normal seasonal infections around the world and India had major challenges tackling epidemics caused by Swine flu. In 2019, the number of swine flu infections in India doubled from previous year.
FDMIN between 2015 and 2019 in their pilots was training Indian doctors on recent epidemics (Ebola, Zika and Influenza pandemic (2009-H1N1) as part of core disaster medicine learning.
31 December 2019 – China reported a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknow origin in Wuhan. Majority of the countries around the world paid very little attention to these reports. WHO set up Incident Management Support Team (IMST) 01 January 2020 at headquarters, regional headquarters and country level. This was followed on 5 January 2020 by publication of WHO’s first Disease Outbreak News on the new virus. Based on their previous experience from MERS and SARS, WHO issued further guidance within 5 days for healthcare workers protection and prevention of spread of the virus in healthcare systems. By 22 January 2020 WHO issued a statement on 22 January 2020 that there was human to human transmission by this virus from Wuhan.
The cause of these pneumonia cases was linked to a novel coronavirus which many called Chinese Corona virus, later termed as 2019-nCov and finally SARS-Cov-2. WHO Situation Report 10 published on 30 January confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV in Finland, India and Philippines linking these cases to people with travel history to Wuhan. In the same report WHO recommended that the interim name of the disease causing this outbreak should be called “2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease.” The new virus had by now spread to 19 countries with 7818 cases recorded by WHO.
23 January 2020 – FDMIN lead, Dr Peter Patel sent first alert to Faculty doctor in Indian including key leads in Pune and Chennai involved in developing training in Disaster Medicine of threat of potential pandemic from novel Corona virus from China. Exchange between Birmingham and India started immediately. WHO situation reports and media reports on 2019-nCoV were shared with the Indian doctors linked to the ‘disaster medicine’ development programme. Similar invitations were sent to key contacts and doctors in Goa and Delhi.
27 January 2020 – Dr Peter Patel departs from Birmingham for India with a suitcase full of FFP 2 masks, Cat 3 coveralls and supporting PPEs. Special workshops in Pune & Chennai on impending pandemic.
4 February 2020 – Novel-Corona-virus training workshop at Bharati Vidhyapeeth, Pune, India
First training workshop titled ‘Novel Corona Virus Infection – Risk, mitigation and managing epidemics’ was delivered from Pune to around 90 doctors and allied healthcare professionals by Dr Peter Patel.
The workshop provided an update on current information available of the nature of 2019 – nCoV, detection and monitoring guidance, the disease, differentiating between epidemics and pandemics, MERS and SARS infections, mode of transmission, treatment and management of the disease, infection control in healthcare, types of PPEs including three types (FFP1, 2, 3) respirators and coveralls fit for use in management of SARS-Cov-2 spread. Key areas for discussions were on healthcare and hospitals planning for the potential pandemic, dawning and doffing of PPEs and mitigation planning. Group discussion covered risks, benefits and challenges of quarantine and impact of lockdowns on population health and access to essential and emergency healthcare.
The workshop provided an update on current information available of the nature of 2019 – nCoV, detection and monitoring guidance, the disease, differentiating between epidemics and pandemics, MERS and SARS infections, mode of transmission, treatment and management of the disease, infection control in healthcare, types of PPEs including three types (FFP1, 2, 3) respirators and coveralls fit for use in management of SARS-Cov-2 spread. Key areas for discussions were on healthcare and hospitals planning for the potential pandemic, dawning and doffing of PPEs and mitigation planning. Group discussion covered risks, benefits and challenges of quarantine and impact of lockdowns on population health and access to essential and emergency healthcare.
12 & 13 February – Novel-Corona-virus training workshop at Sri Ramachandra Hospital and Rela Institute & Medical Centre. Chennai, India
Two more workshop events were held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on 12 & 13 February hosted by Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education (Faculty partners) and Rela Institute & Medical Centre respectively to around 95 doctors and support staff.
12 February, Sri Ramachandra Hospital staff Novel Corona Virus (Covid19) Workshop
13 February Rela Institute & Medical Centre Novel Corona Virus workshop
March 2020 – Planned Faculty second support visit for SARS-Cov-2 to India could not proceed as all the entry visas to India were suspended. The visa ban lasted for over 2 years.
March 2020 – December 2022
FDMIN process of support started by providing updates on available international guidelines from WHO, Public Health England, CDC and many peers reviewed journals and publications. Thousands of key documents on SARS-Cov-2 and Covid19 were shared between March 2020-December 2022 with doctors in India, Nepal and to a limited extent Sri Lanka. These included regular updates on the spread of the virus, identifying fake info on social media network, vaccine updates, anti-vaxxers management, vaccination passports/certificates, new drugs approvals, clinical reviews, clinical mentoring and exchange of best practice healthcare.
Over 5000 key publications and guidelines were shared, 15 Zoom platform webinars support was provided to doctors and pharmacists.
