AIDS and COVID-19 in southern Africa
Afr. j. AIDS res. (Online)
;
20(2): 117-124, 2021. tables
Article
in English
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1284622
ABSTRACT
By the end of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, in February 2021, the numbers of cases and deaths in southern Africa were low in absolute and relative numbers. The BBC ran a story (which was later retracted) headlined "Coronavirus in Africa Could poverty explain mystery of low death rate?". A heading in the New York Post said "Scientists can't explain puzzling lack of coronavirus outbreaks in Africa". Journalist Karen Attiah concluded "It's almost as if they are disappointed that Africans aren't dying en masse and countries are not collapsing". We wondered if the knowledge that southern African countries have acquired in their struggle against AIDS has contributed to a more effective approach against COVID-19. The viral origins of the diseases through zoonotic events are similar; neither has a cure, yet. In both diseases, behaviour change is an important prevention tool, and there are specific groups that are more vulnerable to infection. Equally, there are important differences most people with COVID-19 will recover relatively quickly, while people living with HIV will need lifelong treatment. COVID-19 is extremely infectious, while HIV is less easily transmitted.
Full text:
Available
Index:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
English
Journal:
Afr. j. AIDS res. (Online)
Year:
2021
Type:
Article
Institution/Affiliation country:
Balsillie School of International Affairs, Waterloo, Canada/CA
/
Shiselweni Home-Based Care, Department of Science of Religion and Missiology, University of Pretoria, Piet Retief, South Africa/ZA
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