Ehsan Mostafavi - Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Abdolmajid Ghasemian - Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Abubakar Abdinasir - Infectious Hazards Management, World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Cairo, Egypt
Seyed Alireza Nematollahi Mahani - Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Salman Rawaf - Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK
Mostafa Salehi Vaziri - Department of Arboviruses and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, Research Centre for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Mahdi Gouya - Centre for Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
Tran Minh Nhu Nguyen - Infectious Hazards Management, World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Cairo, Egypt
Salah Al Awaidy - Office of Health Affairs, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman
Lubna Al Ariqi - Infectious Hazards Management, World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Cairo, Egypt
Md. Mazharul Islam - Department of Animal Resources, Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Doha, Qatar
Elmoubasher Abu Baker Abd Farag - Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
Majdouline Obtel - Laboratory of Community Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Public Health Department, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco
Peter Omondi Mala - Infectious Hazards Management, World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Cairo, Egypt
Ghassan M. Matar - Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut & Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
Rana Jawad Asghar - University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
Amal Barakat - Infectious Hazards Management, World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Cairo, Egypt
Mohammad Nadir Sahak - Infectious Hazard Management Department, World Health Organization, Kabul, Afghanistan
Mariam Mansouri - Communicable Diseases Control Department, Public Health Directorate Unit, Ministry of Health, Kuwait City, Kuwait
Alexandra Swaka - Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK

Background  Countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) are predisposed to highly contagious, severe and fatal, emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), and re-emerging infectious diseases (RIDs). This paper reviews the epidemiological situation of EIDs and RIDs of global concern in the EMR between ۲۰۰۱ and ۲۰۱۸. Methods  To do a narrative review, a complete list of studies in the field was we prepared following a systematic search approach. Studies that were purposively reviewed were identified to summarize the epidemiological situation of each targeted disease. A comprehensive search of all published studies on EIDs and RIDs between ۲۰۰۱ and ۲۰۱۸ was carried out through search engines including Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect.  Results  Leishmaniasis, hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) are reported from all countries in the region. Chikungunya, Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), dengue fever, and H۵N۱ have been increasing in number, frequency, and expanding in their geographic distribution. Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), which was reported in this region in ۲۰۱۲ is still a public health concern. There are challenges to control cholera, diphtheria, leishmaniasis, measles, and poliomyelitis in some of the countries. Moreover, Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever (AHF), and Rift Valley fever (RVF) are limited to some countries in the region. Also, there is little information about the real situation of the plague, Q fever, and tularemia. Conclusion  EIDs and RIDs are prevalent in most countries in the region and could further spread within the region. It is crucial to improve regional capacities and capabilities in preventing and responding to disease outbreaks with adequate resources and expertise.

Neglected tropical diseases, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Zoonosis, MERS-CoV, CCHF, Eastern Mediterranean Region