Explaining the unexpected COVID-19 trends and potential impact across Africa. [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
Official COVID-19 case counts and mortality rates across Africa are lower than had been anticipated. Research reports, however, indicate far higher exposure rates than the official counts in some countries. Particularly in Western and Central Africa, where mortality rates are disproportionately lowe...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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F1000 Research Ltd
2022-11-01
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| Series: | F1000Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://f1000research.com/articles/10-1177/v2 |
| _version_ | 1798004754959302656 |
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| author | Daniel Oduro-Mensah Peter Quashie Ebenezer Oduro-Mensah Laud Okine Gordon Awandare |
| author_facet | Daniel Oduro-Mensah Peter Quashie Ebenezer Oduro-Mensah Laud Okine Gordon Awandare |
| author_sort | Daniel Oduro-Mensah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Official COVID-19 case counts and mortality rates across Africa are lower than had been anticipated. Research reports, however, indicate far higher exposure rates than the official counts in some countries. Particularly in Western and Central Africa, where mortality rates are disproportionately lower than the rest of the continent, this occurrence may be due to immune response adaptations resulting from (1) frequent exposure to certain pro-inflammatory pathogens, and (2) a prevalence of low-grade inflammation coupled with peculiar modifications to the immune response based on one’s immunobiography. We suggest that the two factors lead to a situation where post infection, there is a rapid ramp-up of innate immune responses, enough to induce effective defense and protection against plethora pathogens. Alongside current efforts at procuring and distributing vaccines, we draw attention to the need for work towards appreciating the impact of the apparently widespread, asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections on Africa’s populations vis a vis systemic inflammation status and long-term consequences for public health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:29:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cd863a0a64b1458384536b06f430deb6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-1402 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:29:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | F1000 Research Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | F1000Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-cd863a0a64b1458384536b06f430deb62022-12-22T04:23:50ZengF1000 Research LtdF1000Research2046-14022022-11-0110138619Explaining the unexpected COVID-19 trends and potential impact across Africa. [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]Daniel Oduro-Mensah0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4492-2202Peter Quashie1Ebenezer Oduro-Mensah2Laud Okine3Gordon Awandare4Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaWest African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaGa-East Municipal Hospital, Ghana Health Service, Accra, WY1895, GhanaDepartment of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaOfficial COVID-19 case counts and mortality rates across Africa are lower than had been anticipated. Research reports, however, indicate far higher exposure rates than the official counts in some countries. Particularly in Western and Central Africa, where mortality rates are disproportionately lower than the rest of the continent, this occurrence may be due to immune response adaptations resulting from (1) frequent exposure to certain pro-inflammatory pathogens, and (2) a prevalence of low-grade inflammation coupled with peculiar modifications to the immune response based on one’s immunobiography. We suggest that the two factors lead to a situation where post infection, there is a rapid ramp-up of innate immune responses, enough to induce effective defense and protection against plethora pathogens. Alongside current efforts at procuring and distributing vaccines, we draw attention to the need for work towards appreciating the impact of the apparently widespread, asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections on Africa’s populations vis a vis systemic inflammation status and long-term consequences for public health.https://f1000research.com/articles/10-1177/v2COVID-19 Immunobiography Inflamm-aging Inflammation Long COVID eng |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Oduro-Mensah Peter Quashie Ebenezer Oduro-Mensah Laud Okine Gordon Awandare Explaining the unexpected COVID-19 trends and potential impact across Africa. [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] F1000Research COVID-19 Immunobiography Inflamm-aging Inflammation Long COVID eng |
| title | Explaining the unexpected COVID-19 trends and potential impact across Africa. [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_full | Explaining the unexpected COVID-19 trends and potential impact across Africa. [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_fullStr | Explaining the unexpected COVID-19 trends and potential impact across Africa. [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_full_unstemmed | Explaining the unexpected COVID-19 trends and potential impact across Africa. [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_short | Explaining the unexpected COVID-19 trends and potential impact across Africa. [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_sort | explaining the unexpected covid 19 trends and potential impact across africa version 2 peer review 2 approved |
| topic | COVID-19 Immunobiography Inflamm-aging Inflammation Long COVID eng |
| url | https://f1000research.com/articles/10-1177/v2 |
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