Scientists Mystified, Concerned, as Africa Avoids COVID Disaster

When the coronavirus first appeared last year, health officials feared the pandemic would kill millions in Africa. Although it's unclear how many COVID-19 will kill, the horrible, predicted events have not happened.

Scientists note that getting true COVID-19 numbers is extremely difficult, especially in some African countries. They also warn that cases could easily increase again.

Wafaa El-Sadr is the chair of international health at Columbia University in New York. She said there is something "mysterious" going on in Africa that scientists are questioning: "Africa doesn't have the vaccines¹ and resources to fight COVID-19 that they have in Europe and the U.S., but somehow they seem to be doing better," she said.

Fewer than 6 percent of Africans are vaccinated². For months, the World Health Organization (WHO) has described Africa as "one of the least affected³ regions in the world" in its weekly pandemic reports.

Some researchers say the continent's younger population, more rural life, and the amount of time spent outdoors may have saved it from COVID-19 related deaths. Several studies are researching for other reasons, including genes⁴ or past infections with parasites⁶.

On November 19, researchers in Uganda said they found a connection with COVID-19 patients and those who have had a history with the disease malaria⁷. They said those patients were less likely to have severe COVID-19 or death compared to those with little history of the disease.

Christian⁸ Happi is the director of the African Center of Excellence⁹ for Genomics of Infectious Diseases at Redeemer's University in Nigeria. He said officials are used to dealing¹⁰ with outbreaks even without vaccines. He credited the extensive organization of community health workers.

"It's not always about how much money you have or how sophisticated your hospitals are," he said.

Devi Sridhar is the chair of international public health at the University of Edinburgh. She said African leaders have not gotten credit for acting¹¹ quickly, noting Mali's decision to close its borders before COVID-19 even arrived.

"I think there's a different cultural approach in Africa, where these countries have approached COVID with a sense of humility¹² because they've experienced things like Ebola, polio and malaria," Sridhar said.

Ebola and polio are also infectious diseases.

In the past months, the coronavirus hit South Africa hard and is estimated to have killed more than 89,000 people there. It is by far the most deaths on the continent. African officials note the numbers could not be right, but they are not reporting the huge, expected numbers of COVID-related deaths. WHO information shows deaths in Africa make up just 3 percent of the world total. In comparison, deaths in the Americas are 46 percent and Europe has 29 percent.

In Nigeria, Africa's most populous¹³ country, the government has recorded nearly 3,000 deaths so far among its 200 million people. The U.S. records that many deaths every two or three days.

The low numbers have Nigerians like Opemipo Are, a 23-year-old in Abuja, feeling better. "They said there will be dead bodies on the streets and all that, but nothing like that happened," she said.

Oyewale Tomori is a Nigerian virologist who sits on several WHO advisory¹⁴ groups. He believes that Africa might not need as many vaccines as the West. The disputed idea is being seriously discussed by African scientists.

That doesn't mean, however, that vaccines are not needed in Africa.

Salim Abdool Karim studies pandemics at South Africa's University of KwaZulu-Natal and advised South Africa's government on COVID-19. He said, "We need to be vaccinating¹⁵ all out to prepare for the next wave." He added, "Looking at what's happening in Europe, the likelihood of more cases spilling over here is very high."

Words in This Story

region – n. a part of a country or of the world that is different or separate from other parts in some way

parasite⁵ – n. an animal or plant that lives in or on another animal or plant and gets food or protection from it

sophisticated – adj. highly developed and complex

approach – n. a way of dealing with something: a way of doing or thinking about something

humility – n. the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people

1 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

2 vaccinated   

[医]已接种的，种痘的，接种过疫菌的

参考例句：

• I was vaccinated against tetanus. 我接种了破伤风疫苗。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child? 你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？

3 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

4 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪

5 parasite   

n.寄生虫；寄生菌；食客

参考例句：

• The lazy man was a parasite on his family.那懒汉是家里的寄生虫。
• I don't want to be a parasite.I must earn my own way in life.我不想做寄生虫，我要自己养活自己。

6 parasites   

寄生物( parasite的名词复数 )； 靠他人为生的人； 诸虫

参考例句：

• These symptoms may be referable to virus infection rather than parasites. 这些症状也许是由病毒感染引起的，而与寄生虫无关。
• Kangaroos harbor a vast range of parasites. 袋鼠身上有各种各样的寄生虫。

7 malaria   

n.疟疾

参考例句：

• He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
• Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。

8 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

9 excellence   

n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德

参考例句：

• His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
• My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。

10 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

11 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

12 humility   

n.谦逊，谦恭

参考例句：

• Humility often gains more than pride.谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
• His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility.他的声音还是那么温和，甚至有点谦卑。

13 populous   

adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的

参考例句：

• London is the most populous area of Britain.伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。
• China is the most populous developing country in the world.中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。

14 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

15 vaccinating   

给…接种疫苗( vaccinate的现在分词 )； 注射疫苗，接种疫苗

参考例句：

• At first blush, vaccinating the wolves against rabies seems a simple solution. 乍一看来，为狼群注射防狂犬病疫苗是一种简单的办法。
• Also vaccinating children against misers (measles) has saved many lives. 还有，给儿童进行疫苗接种防止麻疹也挽救了许多生命。