190,000 people could die in Africa if Coronavirus containment fails – WHO
The World Health
Organization (WHO) has warned that about 190,000 people in Africa could die of
Coronavirus in the first year of the pandemic, if containment of the disease
fails.
In a new study
carried out by the agency's regional office in Brazzaville, it was found that
between 83,000 and 190,000 could die and 29 to 44 million be infected during
the period. The research is based on prediction modelling and covers 47
countries with a total population of one billion.
AFP reported that
though spread of the virus has been slow across the continent which has not yet
recorded the soaring number of infections or deaths seen in Europe, the United
States and other places, experts have consistently warned that Africa is
particularly vulnerable to an outbreak, due to weak health infrastructure, high
rates of poverty, numerous roiling conflicts and a proven susceptibility to
previous epidemics.
The statement
released by the UN agency on Thursday reads in part;
“The model predicts
the observed slower rate of transmission, lower age of people with severe
disease and lower mortality rates compared to what is seen in the most affected
countries in the rest of the world.
“The lower rate of
transmission, however, suggests a more prolonged outbreak over a few years.”
WHO Africa Director
Matshidiso Moeti added;
“While COVID-19
likely won’t spread as exponentially in Africa as it has elsewhere in the
world, it likely will smoulder in transmission hotspots”.
“COVID-19 could
become a fixture in our lives for the next several years unless a proactive
approach is taken by many governments in the region. We need to test, trace,
isolate and treat.”
Africa has so far
recorded 53,334 cases and 2,065 fatalities — out of a global death toll of
nearly 267,000.
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