4.7 Editorial Material

Emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern Omicron (B.1.1.529)-highlights Africa's research capabilities, but exposes major knowledge gaps, inequities of vaccine distribution, inadequacies in global COVID-19 response and control efforts

Related references

Note: Only part of the references are listed.
Article Infectious Diseases

Genomic-informed pathogen surveillance in Africa: opportunities and challenges

Seth C. Inzaule et al.

Summary: The article highlights the importance of enhancing disease surveillance and management in Africa, discusses the opportunities and challenges of integrating pathogen genomics into public health surveillance systems, and provides recommendations such as establishing networks, training experts, and developing policies.

LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2021)

Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

A year of genomic surveillance reveals how the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic unfolded in Africa

Eduan Wilkinson et al.

Summary: The progression of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Africa has shown heterogeneous patterns, with many countries experiencing epidemics initiated mainly by imports from Europe. The implementation of early travel restrictions helped reduce this trend. However, ongoing transmission and increasing mobility within Africa have led to the emergence and spread of various concerning variants. This highlights the importance of not neglecting Africa in the global pandemic response to prevent it from becoming a source of new variants.

SCIENCE (2021)

Editorial Material Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Addressing challenges to rolling out COVID-19 vaccines in African countries

Jean B. Nachega et al.

LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH (2021)

Article Biology

HIV status alters disease severity and immune cell responses in Beta variant SARS-CoV-2 infection wave

Farina Karim et al.

Summary: Conflicting reports exist on the effects of HIV on COVID-19. In this study, it was found that participants living with HIV had more severe outcomes during the second wave of infection, with lower CD4 T cell counts and higher neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios associated with disease severity. Conversely, in the first wave, HIV seemed to modulate SARS-CoV-2 immune responses to a similar degree in both HIV negative and positive individuals.

ELIFE (2021)

Article Infectious Diseases

Minimizing the impact of the triple burden of COVID-19, tuberculosis and HIV on health services in sub-Saharan Africa

Jean B. Nachega et al.

Summary: This perspective discusses the impact of COVID-19 on TB/HIV health services and approaches to mitigate the growing burden of these three colliding epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa. The COVID-19 pandemic has added an additional burden to already overstretched health systems in SSA, and modelling studies predict significant increases in associated morbidity and mortality over the next five years. Limited empirical evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 coinfections with TB and HIV are associated with increased mortality risk in SSA, highlighting the need for further research on the impact of COVID-19 on communicable diseases and non-communicable disease comorbidities in the region.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2021)

Editorial Material Medicine, General & Internal

Scaling Up Covid-19 Vaccination in Africa - Lessons from the HIV Pandemic

Jean B. Nachega et al.

Summary: The Covid-19 vaccination effort in Africa can learn the importance of improving accessibility and coverage from the experience with antiretroviral treatment, to ensure equitable and comprehensive vaccination in different regions.

NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE (2021)

Review Genetics & Heredity

The biological and clinical significance of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants

Kaiming Tao et al.

Summary: The emergence of multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants has significant impacts on the epidemiological and clinical aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including increased virus transmission rates, heightened risk of reinfection, and reduced effectiveness of neutralizing antibodies and vaccines. These variants have introduced new challenges to COVID-19 research, necessitating additional avenues of laboratory, epidemiological, and clinical studies.

NATURE REVIEWS GENETICS (2021)

Editorial Material Infectious Diseases

COVID-19 travel restrictions and the International Health Regulations - Call for an open debate on easing of travel restrictions

Eskild Petersen et al.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2020)

Editorial Material Multidisciplinary Sciences

COVID-19 vaccines: how to ensure Africa has access

John N. Nkengasong et al.

NATURE (2020)

Editorial Material Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Effects of disruption from COVID-19 on antimalarial strategies

Rashid Ansumana et al.

NATURE MEDICINE (2020)