Unexpected low burden of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in sub-Saharan Africa region despite disastrous predictions: reasons and perspectives
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the development of a highly contagious disease called coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Ten months after the onset of the pandemic, America and Europe remain the most affected regions. Initially, experts predicted that...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
The Pan African Medical Journal
2020-12-01
|
Series: | The Pan African Medical Journal |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: |
https://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/37/352/pdf/352.pdf
|
_version_ | 1818910165278130176 |
---|---|
author | Daryl Nzokou Tcheutchoua Aurel Tiakouang Tankeu Dominic Leandry Wouna Angong Batakeh Ba Agoons Nathan Yves Yanwou Nguemnang Hugues Clotaire Nana Djeunga Joseph Kamgno |
author_facet | Daryl Nzokou Tcheutchoua Aurel Tiakouang Tankeu Dominic Leandry Wouna Angong Batakeh Ba Agoons Nathan Yves Yanwou Nguemnang Hugues Clotaire Nana Djeunga Joseph Kamgno |
author_sort | Daryl Nzokou Tcheutchoua |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the development of a highly contagious disease called coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Ten months after the onset of the pandemic, America and Europe remain the most affected regions. Initially, experts predicted that Africa, the poorest continent with the most vulnerable population and health system, would be greatly affected by the ongoing outbreak. However, 240days after the first confirmed case, Africa is among the least affected region, withlower than expectedincident cases and mortality. In this review, we discuss possible explanations and reasons for this unexpected low burden of COVID-19 in Africa. We focus on the characteristics of the virus, specificities of the sub-Saharan African population and local environment. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-19T22:38:28Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-2bc5f0063d8746649e1b667c5dd63c33 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1937-8688 1937-8688 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-19T22:38:28Z |
publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
publisher | The Pan African Medical Journal |
record_format | Article |
series | The Pan African Medical Journal |
spelling | doaj.art-2bc5f0063d8746649e1b667c5dd63c332022-12-21T20:03:08ZengThe Pan African Medical JournalThe Pan African Medical Journal1937-86881937-86882020-12-013735210.11604/pamj.2020.37.352.2525425254Unexpected low burden of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in sub-Saharan Africa region despite disastrous predictions: reasons and perspectivesDaryl Nzokou Tcheutchoua0Aurel Tiakouang Tankeu1Dominic Leandry Wouna Angong2Batakeh Ba Agoons3Nathan Yves Yanwou Nguemnang4Hugues Clotaire Nana Djeunga5Joseph Kamgno6 Public Health Department, Faculty of Medical and Paramedical Sciences, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland Public Health Department, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon Public Health Department, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon Public Health Department, Faculty of Medical and Paramedical Sciences, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France Centre for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases, Yaoundé, Cameroon Centre for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases, Yaoundé, Cameroon The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the development of a highly contagious disease called coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Ten months after the onset of the pandemic, America and Europe remain the most affected regions. Initially, experts predicted that Africa, the poorest continent with the most vulnerable population and health system, would be greatly affected by the ongoing outbreak. However, 240days after the first confirmed case, Africa is among the least affected region, withlower than expectedincident cases and mortality. In this review, we discuss possible explanations and reasons for this unexpected low burden of COVID-19 in Africa. We focus on the characteristics of the virus, specificities of the sub-Saharan African population and local environment. https://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/37/352/pdf/352.pdf severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2covid-19sub saharan africaburdenexplanationsreasons |
spellingShingle | Daryl Nzokou Tcheutchoua Aurel Tiakouang Tankeu Dominic Leandry Wouna Angong Batakeh Ba Agoons Nathan Yves Yanwou Nguemnang Hugues Clotaire Nana Djeunga Joseph Kamgno Unexpected low burden of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in sub-Saharan Africa region despite disastrous predictions: reasons and perspectives The Pan African Medical Journal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 covid-19 sub saharan africa burden explanations reasons |
title | Unexpected low burden of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in sub-Saharan Africa region despite disastrous predictions: reasons and perspectives |
title_full | Unexpected low burden of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in sub-Saharan Africa region despite disastrous predictions: reasons and perspectives |
title_fullStr | Unexpected low burden of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in sub-Saharan Africa region despite disastrous predictions: reasons and perspectives |
title_full_unstemmed | Unexpected low burden of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in sub-Saharan Africa region despite disastrous predictions: reasons and perspectives |
title_short | Unexpected low burden of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in sub-Saharan Africa region despite disastrous predictions: reasons and perspectives |
title_sort | unexpected low burden of coronavirus disease 2019 covid 19 in sub saharan africa region despite disastrous predictions reasons and perspectives |
topic | severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 covid-19 sub saharan africa burden explanations reasons |
url |
https://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/37/352/pdf/352.pdf
|
work_keys_str_mv | AT darylnzokoutcheutchoua unexpectedlowburdenofcoronavirusdisease2019covid19insubsaharanafricaregiondespitedisastrouspredictionsreasonsandperspectives AT aureltiakouangtankeu unexpectedlowburdenofcoronavirusdisease2019covid19insubsaharanafricaregiondespitedisastrouspredictionsreasonsandperspectives AT dominicleandrywounaangong unexpectedlowburdenofcoronavirusdisease2019covid19insubsaharanafricaregiondespitedisastrouspredictionsreasonsandperspectives AT batakehbaagoons unexpectedlowburdenofcoronavirusdisease2019covid19insubsaharanafricaregiondespitedisastrouspredictionsreasonsandperspectives AT nathanyvesyanwounguemnang unexpectedlowburdenofcoronavirusdisease2019covid19insubsaharanafricaregiondespitedisastrouspredictionsreasonsandperspectives AT huguesclotairenanadjeunga unexpectedlowburdenofcoronavirusdisease2019covid19insubsaharanafricaregiondespitedisastrouspredictionsreasonsandperspectives AT josephkamgno unexpectedlowburdenofcoronavirusdisease2019covid19insubsaharanafricaregiondespitedisastrouspredictionsreasonsandperspectives |