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ADDIS ABABA, Jan.30 (Xinhua) – The African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC of Africa) said Saturday that the second wave of ongoing COVID-19 infections could be associated with the emergence of variants that they are more transmissible.
“Africa is currently experiencing an increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases,” the specialized health agency of the African Union (AU) Commission said on Saturday in its latest publication.
At least 40 countries have experienced a second wave of the pandemic as of Jan. 27, including all countries in the Southern Africa region, the Africa CDC said.
“This new wave of infections is believed to be associated with the emergence of variants that are more transmissible,” the Africa CDC said.
According to the agency, preliminary findings show that three similar but distinct new variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the 501Y / VUI – 202012/01, 501Y.V2, 501Y.V3, reported in the United States, Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil, respectively, “they are significantly more transmissible than previously circulating variants, with high viral shedding observed among cases.”
Despite the fact that there is currently limited data on the extent to which these new variants have spread in Africa, the Africa CDC emphasized that preliminary data shows that the 501Y.V2 variant has been reported in 22 countries globally, including South Africa, Ghana and Botswana. and Zambia.
The Africa CDC is currently working with partners and member states to map the regional spread of the new variants in Africa through regional genomic surveillance; and support laboratory centers of excellence to address emerging SARS-CoV-2 sequencing needs of Member States and ensure the availability of geographically representative and timely data.
Provide technical guidance for the genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Africa; ensure quality-assured sequencing by specialized laboratories and regional laboratory centers; and strengthening the capacity of national and regional laboratories to respond effectively to emerging sequencing needs are also said to be CDC’s primary areas of intervention in Africa in the fight against the pandemic.
According to the latest figures from the Africa CDC, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent was 3,534,360 as of Saturday morning.
According to the agency’s panel, the death toll related to the pandemic in Africa stood at 89,839 as of Saturday morning.
It was noted that a total of 3,014,896 people infected with COVID-19 have recovered across the continent.
The Southern Africa region is the worst affected area in Africa in terms of the number of confirmed positive cases, followed by the North Africa region, according to the agency. Final product
