Liberia

Covid-19: Africa scrambles to increase genomic testing capacity as variants spread

Submitted by mike kraft on

Covid-19: Africa scrambles to increase genomic testing capacity as variants spread African countries are struggling to bolster genomic sequencing as SARS-CoV-2 variants spread on the continent, reports Abdullahi Tsanni As the world entered 2021, the covid-19 pandemic began a new phase, one dominated by worries over emerging variants. But the way of detecting these threats has not been standardised—even in the UK, where genomic sequencing is relatively frequent, only 5-10% of covid-19 positive cases were being sequenced at the start of the year.1 The spotlight on sequencing has highlighted inequalities in global capacity. Many countries in Africa do not perform sequencing themselves, and those that do only do so on a small scale.
Country / Region Tags: 
Africa
Conakry
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ghana
Liberia
Nigeria
Senegal
General Topic Tags: 
COVID-19
Medical Testing
Public Health
Contagion
Disease
Government
Health
Pandemics
Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
Situation Report

Africa: coronavirus vaccine hesitancy adds to slow rollout of doses

Submitted by mike kraft on

In Africa, vaccine hesitancy adds to slow rollout of doses KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Some Africans are hesitating to get COVID-19 vaccines amid concerns about their safety, alarming public health officials as some countries start to destroy thousands of doses that expired before use. Malawi and South Sudan in recent days have said they will destroy some of their doses, a concerning development on a continent where health officials have been outspoken about the need for vaccine equity as the world's rich nations hold the bulk of shots.
Country / Region Tags: 
Africa
Conakry
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ghana
Global
Guinea
Liberia
Mali
Nigeria
Senegal
Sierra Leone
South Africa
General Topic Tags: 
COVID-19
Data
Public Attitudes
Public Health
Health
Pandemics
Population
Trust
Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
Situation Report

Current Ebola outbreak is shockingly traced traced to survivor of West Africa crisis 5 years ago

Submitted by mike kraft on

Stunning analysis traces new Ebola outbreak to survivor of W. Africa crisis The analysis suggests that a survivor of the historic Ebola outbreak continued shedding the virus at least five years after being infected. Helen Branswell STAT

A survivor of the massive 2014-2016 West African Ebola outbreak almost certainly triggered an outbreak currently underway in Guinea, according to a new genetic analysis, news that has landed like a bombshell in the community of researchers who study the dangerous virus.

Country / Region Tags: 
Africa
Conakry
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Guinea
Liberia
Sierra Leone
General Topic Tags: 
Data
Contagion
Disease
Health
Research
Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
Analysis

Global Covid-19 recovery hampered by slow pace of vaccine deliveries to Africa

Submitted by mike kraft on

Slow pace of vaccine delivery risks global COVID-19 recovery Jumbo jets carrying pallets of coronavirus vaccines touched down last week in Rwanda, Sudan, Kenya, the Gambia, the Philippines and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where pilots posed for happy, masked photographs with health ministers a Reid Wilson TheHill
Country / Region Tags: 
Africa
Conakry
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ghana
Global
Guinea
Liberia
Mali
Nigeria
Rockaway
Sierra Leone
South Africa
United Nations
United States
General Topic Tags: 
COVID-19
Data
Vaccinations
Contagion
Disease
Government
Health
Pandemics
Scarcity
Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
Situation Report

EBOLA: White House orders screening of airline passagers from affected African countries.

Submitted by mike kraft on

White House orders enhanced airport screenings for Ebola The Biden administration is moving forward with plans to screen airline passengers from two African countries arriving in the U.S. for Ebola, which will involve sending them to one of about a half dozen designated airports, Yahoo News has learned. YahooNews
Country / Region Tags: 
Africa
Conakry
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Global
Liberia
Sierra Leone
United States
General Topic Tags: 
Disease Prevention
Medical Testing
Contagion
Disease
Government
Health
Transportation
Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
Situation Report

New Ebola outbreaks in Africa need swift action to avoid ‘catastrophic consequences’ -- the White House

Submitted by mike kraft on

White House says Ebola outbreaks in Africa need swift action to avoid 'catastrophic consequences' The reemergence of Ebola in Guinea and the DRC has global health specialists particularly concerned. Will Feuer CNBC
    Country / Region Tags: 
    Africa
    Conakry
    Democratic Republic of the Congo
    Guinea
    Liberia
    Nigeria
    Senegal
    Sierra Leone
    General Topic Tags: 
    Public Health
    Contagion
    Disease
    Health
    Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
    Situation Report

    OPINION: Until Africans get the Covid vaccinations they need, the whole world will suffer

    Submitted by mike kraft on

    Until Africans get the Covid vaccinations they need, the whole world will suffer | Paul Kagame We’re not asking for charity, but fairness – instead of hoarding and protectionism, says Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda the Guardian
    Country / Region Tags: 
    Africa
    Conakry
    Democratic Republic of the Congo
    Ghana
    Liberia
    UK - London
    Mali
    Nigeria
    Senegal
    Sierra Leone
    South Africa
    United Nations
    General Topic Tags: 
    COVID-19
    Vaccinations
    Government
    Pandemics
    Policy
    Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
    Analysis
    Situation Report

    Unwilling to wait, poorer countries seek their own vaccines

    Submitted by mike kraft on

    Mutated virus may reinfect people already stricken once with covid-19, sparking debate and concerns The finding, though far from conclusive, has potential implications for how the pandemic will be brought under control, underscoring the critical role of vaccination. Carolyn Y. Johnson, William Wan Washington Post

    ALSO SEE:  Western countries have 'hoarded' Covid vaccines. Africa is being left behind as cases surge

    Country / Region Tags: 
    Africa
    Global
    India
    Liberia
    Mali
    Mexico
    Senegal
    Sierra Leone
    South Africa
    SouthEast Asia
    United Nations
    General Topic Tags: 
    COVID-19
    Data
    Vaccinations
    Capacity
    Government
    Health
    Pandemics
    Scarcity
    Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
    Situation Report

    Africa's COVID-19 case fatality rate surpasses global level

    Submitted by mike kraft on

    Africa's COVID-19 case fatality rate surpasses global level Africa's coronavirus case fatality rate has risen alarmingly to 2.5%, higher than the global level of 2.2%, the head of the continent's disease control body said on Thursday. Reuters Staff U.S.

    NAIROBI (Reuters) - Africa’s coronavirus case fatality rate has risen alarmingly to 2.5%, higher than the global level of 2.2%, the head of the continent’s disease control body said on Thursday.

    Country / Region Tags: 
    Africa
    Global
    Guinea
    Liberia
    Mali
    Middle East
    Nigeria
    Senegal
    Sierra Leone
    South Africa
    General Topic Tags: 
    COVID-19
    Data
    Contagion
    Disease
    Health
    Pandemics
    Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
    Situation Report

    New coronavirus variant: What do we know?

    Submitted by mike kraft on

    New coronavirus variant: What do we know? How has a new coronavirus variant become the most common form of the virus in parts of England? BBC News

    The rapid spread of a new variant of coronavirus has been blamed for the introduction of strict tier four mixing rules for millions of people, harsher restrictions on mixing at Christmas in England, Scotland and Wales, and other countries placing the UK on a travel ban.

    Country / Region Tags: 
    Australia
    Europe
    Global
    Liberia
    United Kingdom
    United States
    General Topic Tags: 
    COVID-19
    Contagion
    Disease
    Health
    Pandemics
    Research
    Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
    Analysis
    Situation Report

    Pages

    Subscribe to Liberia