A Revisit View of COVID-19 on Kish Island: A Study by Mansoorabadi and Colleagues

A Revisit View of COVID-19 on Kish Island: A Study by Mansoorabadi and Colleagues

In a timely study published in the Hormozgan Medical Journal, researchers Elham Mansoorabadi, Maryam Sattarian, Mohammad Reza Rezania, Ebrahim Moradi, and Mohammad Shamsadiny provide valuable insights into the epidemiology of COVID-19 on Kish Island, Iran, during the early months of the pandemic (February–August 2020).

Analyzing data from nearly 5,000 individuals tested for COVID-19, the researchers found a positivity rate of approximately 26%, with infected individuals predominantly male and averaging around 37 years of age. Significant findings included:

• Higher infection rates among women compared to men.

• Office employees formed the largest occupational group tested, though housewives had double the positivity rate.

• Individuals with a history of recent travel and those exposed to suspected COVID-19 cases showed significantly higher infection rates.

• Delays between symptom onset and testing correlated with disease severity, notably higher among deceased patients.

Given Kish Island's tourism-driven economy and transient population, Mansoorabadi and colleagues emphasize the necessity of robust screening policies and stricter measures to limit contact with symptomatic individuals or recent travelers. Their research highlights critical areas for public health interventions to mitigate COVID-19 risks effectively.

For further details, explore the original study here: https://hmj.hums.ac.ir/PDF/hmj-3075.pdf