Coronavirus Antibody
These coronavirus antibody tests are also drastically less costly than typical coronavirus tests. Medical science experts and doctors have been previously recorded as stating that antibody tests are the “missing weapon” in combating coronavirus. Contradictingly, The South African Medical Journal has forewarned against the heroic belief in antibody tests as the science is more complicated; and the presence of antibodies does not necessarily mean protection against reinfection or being contagious.
Over one million coronavirus infections have been recorded in Africa, which is almost 10 percent of Africa’s total population. South Africa leads in infection rate numbers, but that is because of the high number of tests.
WHO International Rescue Committee has analysed countries’ response to the pandemic and have identified possible hotspots for coronavirus breakouts. Nigeria is of concern because of the rising infections which account for a third of Africa’s total reported cases.
While South Africa previously raised concern because of alleged under-reporting of coronavirus related deaths; coronavirus infection numbers are said to be steadily declining. South Africa reported a loss of over R5 billion in the economy due to the pandemic and Nigeria has reported millions of job losses.
Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention; reported from Adis Ababa that it is also monitoring the pandemic in Kenya; Ethiopia, Sudan, Zambia, Gabon, DR Congo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Egypt,and Algeria.
Nkengasong said a continental strategy was being developed to set up a consortium of clinical trials and then begin the procurement and financing of vaccines.
