HEALTH - The African Mirror

Apr

07

2021

WHO does not back vaccination passports

COVID-19

THE World Health Organization does not back requiring vaccination passports for travel due to uncertainty over whether inoculation prevents transmission of the virus, as well as equity concerns, a spokeswoman has said. "We as WHO are saying at this stage we would not like to see the vaccination passport as a requirement for entry or exit because we are not certain at this stage that the vaccine prevents transmission," WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said. "There are all those other questions, apart from the question of discrimination against the people who are not able to have the vaccine for one reason…

Apr

07

2021

By The African Mirror

Global COVID-19 death toll surpasses 3 million

COVID-19

ROSHAN ABRAHAM and ANURAG MAAN COVID-19-related deaths worldwide crossed 3 million yesterday, according to a Reuters tally, as the latest global resurgence of COVID-19 infections is challenging vaccination efforts across the globe. Worldwide COVID-19 deaths are rising once again, especially in Brazil and India. Health officials blame more infectious variants that were first detected in the United Kingdom and South Africa, along with public fatigue with lockdowns and other restrictions. (Open in an external browser for global COVID graphic) According to a Reuters tally, it took more than a year for the global coronavirus death toll to reach 2 million.…

Jul

08

2021

By The African Mirror

UK to track COVID-19 variants with genomic sequencing across the world

COVID-19

BRITAIN has announced that it would provide genomic sequencing support to Brazil, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Pakistan to help identify, assess and track new variants of the novel coronavirus. The novel coronavirus, which has killed 4 million people globally since it emerged in China in late 2019, mutates around once every few weeks, slower than influenza or HIV, but enough to require tweaks to vaccines. Public Health England will extend support to Britain's partners through the New Variant Assessment Platform Programme which tracks changes in the virus. About a third of all SARS-CoV-2 sequences submitted to the international GISAID database…

Apr

15

2021

By The African Mirror

We’re on the hunt for novel ways to assess the risk of type 2 diabetes

HEALTH

TYPE 2 diabetes is characterised by elevated blood glucose levels. This can cause complications that lead to damage to the kidneys, nerves, and the retina in the eyes. Other complications can lead to heart diseases and diabetic foot ulcers, which eventually require amputation. CECIL JACK WEALE, Assistant Lecturer and Medical Researcher, Cape Peninsula University of Technology Until fairly recently type 2 diabetes was considered a major health issue only in developed countries. But there’s been an increase in prevalence in developing countries. This has been attributed to rapid urbanisation, increased fast food consumption and general lack of exercise. The diabetes…

Apr

14

2021

By The African Mirror

J&J vaccine panic: SA finds no major safety concerns

COVID-19

MICHAEL ERMAN and MANAS MISHRA The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) today announced that it had recently reviewed data from Johnson & Johnson's (J&J) local research study immunising healthcare workers and found no major safety concerns. SAHPRA added that it was awaiting additional data from J&J and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The reassurance came after the world went on to full alert and the rollout of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine has been suspended after six US women under age 50 developed rare blood clots after receiving the shot, dealing a fresh setback to efforts…

Jul

07

2021

By The African Mirror

Lions tour in jeopardy after management member tests COVID-19 positive

COVID-19

MARK GLEESON THE British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa was thrown into jeopardy today when a member of the Lions' tour management tested positive for COVID-19 as infections continue to spread across South African rugby. A statement from the Lions said the individual and four close contacts – including two players and two members of staff – were being isolated and assessed at the team hotel, and that all other members of the touring party had been PCR-tested. If they test positive, then Wednesday's tour match against the Sharks in Johannesburg is likely to be called off. The…

Jul

07

2021

By The African Mirror

Morocco’s to produce vaccine

COVID-19

MOROCCAN pharmaceutical firm Sothema will soon start production of five million doses a month of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in the North African country, state news agency MAP has reported. The announcement was made at a ceremony chaired by King Mohammed VI during which the Moroccan government, Sinopharm and Sothema, whose formal name is Société Thérapeutique Marocaine, also signed deals to produce the vaccine in Morocco, which has a population of about 36 million. At the same event, the Moroccan government also signed a deal with Sweden's Recipharm to set up a plant in Morocco to produce other key vaccines.…

Jul

07

2021

By The African Mirror

Tunisia to buy 3.5-million doses of vaccine

COVID-19

TUNISIA is to buy 3.5-million doses of COVID-19 vaccine directly from Johnson & Johnson, amid sharp criticism of the government for the slow pace of its vaccination campaign. So far, only about 592,000 Tunisians have received the two doses of vaccine in the country of 11.6 million residents. After successfully containing the virus in the first wave last year, Tunisia is grappling with a rise in infections. It imposed a lockdown in some cities since last week, but rejected a full national lockdown due to the economic crisis. In total, Tunisia has recorded 447,000 coronavirus cases and more than 14,000…

Jul

07

2021

By The African Mirror

England to scrap self-isolation

COVID-19

ALISTAIR SMOUT and MICHAEL HOLDEN PEOPLE who have been fully vaccinated and children will from August 16 no longer have to self-isolate after close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, health minister Sajid Javid has announced. Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out plans on Monday to end social and economic COVID-19 restrictions in England on July 19, a test of whether a rapid vaccine rollout offers enough protection from the more infectious Delta variant. Javid said the success of the vaccine programme meant it was possible to go further in easing self-isolation rules for those who have received…

Apr

14

2021

By The African Mirror

South Africa secure 10 million doses

COVID-19

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER SOUTH Africa has sealed a deal in terms of which the country will receive 10 million COVID-19 doses from Pfizer. The deal brings to 30 million, the number of doses the country has secured from Pfizer. The deal was announced by SA Health Minister Zweli Mkhize. “I am happy to announce that we have successfully negotiated for another 10 million doses from Pfizer and, of these, we expect just under two million to be delivered in May. This, therefore, means that we have secured 30 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine for this financial year. South Africa…