Africa’s Third Wave is Like Nothing we’ve Seen Before – W.H.O

By: Zilungile Mkhize

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised concern over the spread of the Delta variant fueling the third wave of COVID-19 in Africa.

The variant has been reported in 16 countries, including nine with surging cases, South Africa being one of them.

WHO Africa Regional Director, Matshidiso Moeti says the Delta variant first identified in India is dominant in South Africa, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“And it is dominant in South Africa, which accounted for more than half of Africa’s cases in the same period. According to the latest country reports, the Delta variant was detected in 97% of samples sequenced in Uganda and 79% of samples sequenced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” states Moeti.

Moeti has also raised concerns that the speed and scale of Africa’s third wave is like nothing we’ve seen before.

“The rampant spread of more contagious variants pushes the threat to Africa up to a whole new level. More transmission means more serious illness and more deaths, so everyone must act now and boost prevention measures to stop an emergency becoming a tragedy,” explains Dr Moeti.

She adds that the only hope the continent has is ensuring the new variants don’t spread like wild fire is following all set guidelines.