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COVID-19 among Health Workers in Germany and Malaysia

Author

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  • Albert Nienhaus

    (Competence Centre for Epidemiology and Health Services Research for Healthcare Professionals (CVcare), University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20459 Hamburg, Germany
    Department of Occupational Medicine, Hazardous Substances and Public Health, Institution for Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Health and Welfare Services (Berufsgenossenschaft für Gesundheitsdienst und Wohlfahrtspflege—BGW), 22089 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Rozita Hod

    (Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Malaysia Jln Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56 000, Malaysia)

Abstract

We report on the suspected case reports filed for SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 illnesses among health and social welfare workers in Germany. In addition, we report about COVID-19 in health workers in Malaysia. Claims for occupational diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2 are recorded separately in a database of the Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Health and Welfare Services (BGW). This database is analyzed according to its content as of May 22, 2020. In addition, the notifiable cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections from personnel in medical institutions (e.g., clinics and doctor’s office) and social welfare institutions (e.g., nursing homes, shelters and refugee camps) following the German Infection Protection Act are analyzed. The report from Malaysia is based on personal experience and publications of the government. In Germany at present, 4398 suspected case reports for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infections among health and social workers have been filed. This figure is four times the number of all reported infections normally received per year. The majority of claims, regardless of being a confirmed infection, concerned nurses (n = 6927, 63.9%). The mortality rate for workers infected with SARS-CoV-2 is 0.2% to 0.5%. Doctors are affected by severe illness more frequently than other occupational groups (8.1% vs. 4.1%). In Malaysia, work-related infection of health workers (HW) occurred mainly when COVID-19 was not suspected in patients and no adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) was worn. Although knowledge on the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infections among workers remains limited, the impact appears to be substantial. This is supported by the mortality rate among infected workers. Occupational health check-ups carried out at the present time should be systematically analyzed in order to gain more information on the epidemiology of COVID-19 among HW. Since the supply and use of PPE improved, the infection risk of HW in Malaysia seems to have decreased.

Suggested Citation

  • Albert Nienhaus & Rozita Hod, 2020. "COVID-19 among Health Workers in Germany and Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-10, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:13:p:4881-:d:381173
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jan Felix Kersten & Albert Nienhaus & Stephanie Schneider & Anja Schablon, 2020. "Tuberculosis among Health Workers—A Secondary Data Analysis of German Social Accident Insurance Data from 2002–2017," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-9, February.
    2. Albert Nienhaus, 2018. "Infections in Healthcare Workers in Germany—22-Year Time Trends," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-12, November.
    3. Dian-Jeng Li & Nai-Ying Ko & Yi-Lung Chen & Peng-Wei Wang & Yu-Ping Chang & Cheng-Fang Yen & Wei-Hsin Lu, 2020. "COVID-19-Related Factors Associated with Sleep Disturbance and Suicidal Thoughts among the Taiwanese Public: A Facebook Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-12, June.
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    1. Albert Nienhaus, 2021. "COVID-19 among Health Workers in Germany—An Update," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-10, August.
    2. Albert Nienhaus & Johanna Stranzinger & Agnessa Kozak, 2023. "COVID-19 as an Occupational Disease—Temporal Trends in the Number and Severity of Claims in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-9, January.
    3. Abdul Aziz Harith & Mohd Hafiz Ab Gani & Robin Griffiths & Azlihanis Abdul Hadi & Nor Aishah Abu Bakar & Julia Myers & Maznieda Mahjom & Rosnawati Muhamad Robat & Muhammad Zulfakhar Zubir, 2022. "Incidence, Prevalence, and Sources of COVID-19 Infection among Healthcare Workers in Hospitals in Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-13, September.
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    7. Nika Zielinski & Johanna Stranzinger & Hajo Zeeb & Jan Felix Kersten & Albert Nienhaus, 2021. "Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Health Workers in Germany—A Retrospective Study on Progression Risk and Use of Preventive Therapy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-9, July.
    8. Mohamed Mekhemar & Sameh Attia & Christof Dörfer & Jonas Conrad, 2021. "Dental Nurses’ Mental Health in Germany: A Nationwide Survey during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-18, July.
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