Our journalist returned from Zanzibar and recounted the situation with COVID-19 – Africa

Is there a risk that the many Bulgarian tourists in Zanzibar and Kenya will import the South African and Nigerian variants of the coronavirus?

Experts openly express their concern that this is possible. Kenya and Tanzania, which are flown by Bulgarian charters, do not currently require a negative PCR or antigen test upon entry. That is why these destinations are so attractive to many tourists.

They redirect vaccines to the most affected areas and monitor Zanzibar tourists

Sports journalist Stefan Georgiev spent a week in Zanzibar. Here’s what he said about security measures: “There are no real measures, as we know them in Europe and in civilized countries here, and in this part of the world they have ignored this virus for a long time,” Blitz reported.

In the few cases where hotel staff wear masks, they are incorrectly placed under the chin, Stefan says. The bars and restaurants are visibly crowded with people of many nationalities who also do not wear masks and do not keep their distance.

We hope that a possible infection with the new Nigerian and South African variants will not be imported into Bulgaria, they are the mandatory PCR tests when landing in our country.

“Here at the airport, RHI records phone numbers, passport data and within 24 hours must submit a negative PCR test to remove the 10-day quarantine,” Stefan Georgiev said.

According to some experts in Bulgaria, there is no evidence that the new Nigerian version of the coronavirus infects both vaccinated people and people with natural antibodies. However, according to other experts, that risk is within 3 percent for those vaccinated and 10 percent for those with natural antibodies. The reason for the second version is a mutation that changed the place of two amino acids in the genetic code of the virus, reducing the ability of human antibodies to neutralize it.

“You will not die, you may not go to the hospital, you will have a hard time, but you will have a fever, sore throat and lethargy in a week … Vaccine companies currently in use in Europe and the United States are capable in a month of adapt the vaccine to deal with the latest mutations, “says Professor Todor Kantardzhiev.

If it is conclusively shown that current vaccines do not protect against the new variants, a third dose of vaccine will likely be needed in the fall.