Up to 190,000 could die in Africa if virus containment fails: WHO eNCA
A health worker takes a swab from a woman during a community COVID-19 coronavirus testing campaign in Abuja.KINSHASA - Up to 190,000 people in Africa could die of coronavirus in the first year of the pandemic if containment measures fail, the World Health Organisation warned.
The research is based on prediction modelling and covers 47 countries with a total population of one billion, the WHO said in a statement.Experts have consistently warned that Africa is particularly vulnerable to an outbreak, due to weak health infrastructure, high rates of poverty, numerous roiling conflicts and a proven susceptibility to previous epidemics.
"The model predicts the observed slower rate of transmission, lower age of people with severe disease and lower mortality rates compared to what is seen in the most affected countries in the rest of the world," the statement said.READ:WHO Africa Director Matshidiso Moeti said that"while COVID-19 likely won't spread as exponentially in Africa as it has elsewhere in the world, it likely will smoulder in transmission hotspots".
Africa has so far recorded 53,334 cases and 2,065 fatalities -- out of a global death toll of nearly 267,000 -- according to an AFP tally.
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