Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa are at high risk of getting infected by coronavirus, according to a study published on the Lancet medical journal.
The report "Preparedness and vulnerability of African countries against importations of COVID-19: a modelling study" found that Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa were at particular risk due to higher levels of travel and trade with China, where the COVID-19 virus originated.
Researchers evaluated the preparedness and vulnerability of African countries, as well as the possibility of COVID-19 cases coming in from China. The World Health Organization (WHO) determined 13 top priority countries, including Algeria, Ethiopia, South Africa and Nigeria, based on direct links and travels to China.
Around three-quarters of African countries have an influenza pandemic preparedness plan. However, the study identified the countries that would need support in terms of detection and management, and these are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, Angola, Tanzania, Ghana and Kenya.
Some African countries lack the resources, such as beds and quarantine premises. "Crisis management plans should be ready in each African country, and involvement of the international community should catalyze such preparedness,” said study author Dr. Vittoria Colizza, of France’s Sorbonne university.
To measure the country's capacity to manage COVID-19 cases, the researchers used two indicators: "preparedness, using the WHO International Health Regulations Monitoring and Evaluation Framework; and vulnerability, using the Infectious Disease Vulnerability Index. Countries were clustered according to the Chinese regions contributing most to their risk."
Preparedness
“African countries have recently strengthened their preparedness to manage importations of COVID-19 cases,” said Dr. Colizza.
The measures were temperature screening at ports of entry, advice to avoid traveling to China, and public health information given to health professionals and the general public.
Dr. Colizza pointed out that “some countries remain ill-equipped” to manage the threat. She believes that surveillance and rapid identification of suspected cases, patient isolation and contact tracing must be addressed.
