WHO Discloses Reasons For Low COVID-19 Cases, Deaths In Africa

The World Health Organization has given reasons for the low cases of COVID-19 recorded in Africa.

African countries have recorded relatively low cases compared to other countries around the world. South Africa currently has the highest cases of COVID-19 in the continent with 23,615 cases and 1,032 deaths.

Speaking on the reasons for the low cases recorded in Africa compared to other more advanced countries, WHO Director General, Tedros Ghebreyesus noted that Africa’s experience with seceral other diseases might account for this.

He disclosed that Africa only has 1.5% of the world’s reoorted cases and 0.1% of deaths.

He said: “Africa is the least-affected region globally in terms of the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths reported to WHO.”

The DG said the continent has been, “spared the scale of outbreaks we have seen in other regions.”

Ghebreyesus noted that African countries, “garnered a great deal of experience from tackling infectious diseases like polio, measles, Ebola, yellow fever, influenza and many more”.

He further commended the rapid response by the African Union (UN), headed by South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa.

The WHO said the early set-up of a leaders’ coalition was, “key to rapidly accelerating COVID-19 preparedness efforts and issuing comprehensive control measures.”

The United States remain the epicenter of the disease in the world with over 1.7 million cases and almost 100,000 deaths reported.

Odunews.com had earlier reported that the World Health Organization suspended its clinical trial for Hydroxylchloroquine as treatment for COVID-19 after more fatalities were recorded during its trial.

This is coming as some leaders across the world, including US President Donald Trump, have encouraged the use of the drug to treat COVID-19.