What Africa Needs to Know About the Number of People that Could Potentially Die from Coronavirus

Everyone is at risk of getting the new coronavirus infection. However, some are more vulnerable to contracting it in a more aggressive blow as opposed to others. 

The recent death rate report shows that old people are more susceptible to severe covid19 attacks as opposed to young people. The World Health Organization released the percentages of the death rates according to the various ages. This revelation shows that between the ages of 10-49 death rate goes only as high as 0.4% whereas, from the ages 50 going up, the death rate ascends to a peak of 14.8%.

The lethality of the covid19 in Africa was contrasted and noted to come out as most lethal in people with other conditions and the elderly. Regardless of other diseases in Africa, Covid19 has been marked as a fast-spreading disease with Africa not being speared. Curtaining its spread on the African continent is critical as the statistics have shown.

This clearly shows that the virus is fatal and less lethal when compared to other known diseases on the continent. The contagious virus requires an urgent solution by the continent.

Medical findings indicated that every person stands a high chance of contracting the virus while showing no symptoms. According to Sante publique, the respiratory virus spreads fast, compared to sexually transmitted diseases. 

Statistics show that in Africa an infected person of covid19 is likely to infect an average of 2 people as opposed to the 11 - Dengue fever, 9 - measles and 5 – Smallpox and Hepatitis B. Medical reports state that there is a need to follow advice from WHO that everyone with respiratory illness should medical attention.  

In Africa, it is noted that the disease is affecting most people who travel by air. A New England Journal of Medicine examined the none severe cases of 1,099 covid19 patients. 60% were between 15-49 years of age and suggest that the group is spared from aggressive attacks by the virus leading to death. Another assessment of 163 patients revealed 41% to be young adults, 31% were from 50-64 whilst 27% were above 65.  The report reaffirms that all age groups are susceptible to contracting the virus. 

It is rather advised to look at underlying causes and how to tackle the disease as opposed to feign ignorance. This will aid in curbing the spread of the virus. 

Furthermore, Africa has preceding recent events of the coronavirus wrath. Soon after the first covid19 case was recorded in South Africa it was noted that within a week 24 other cases had been recorded.

People with preceding conditions such as the ones below also have a higher chance of contracting the virus and it resulting in death. The covid19 tears apart lungs leading to cardiovascular complications china’s study of less than half of 44,600 returned the following results

 A study of 150 patients in Wuhan, China showed people with cardiovascular diseases were more prone to death when infected. This is caused by the connection between heart and lungs, if one has a weak heart or blocked arteries, they are required to do more to get oxygen moving in their bodies. A study in Wuhan also showed that influenza often attacked people with covid19 because they would already have a weakened immune system. Cardiac patients or those with any of the above conditions are advised to get vaccinated for flu and bacterial pneumonia.

People with heart problems suffer the risk of not knowing how vulnerability to severe covid19 attacks. Heart problems heighten the threat of influenza and covid19 attacks. Diabetes and cardiac patients are implored to have their regular medication and people with and without high blood pressure should constantly check if their blood pressure is under control.

Asthmatic people, those with allergies, chronic respiratory illness and smoking lung damage are at risk if infected with covid19. In other people, Covid19 takes 2 days to 6 weeks without showing symptoms. The infected people should desist from appearing in public places as they are carriers of the disease.

Moreover, Patients suffering from cancer, leukemia or lymphoma undergoing intense therapy or born marrow transplant are prone to catching viral pneumonia once infected. This is due to compromised immune systems in their body. Cancer patients are best served by social distancing and good hygiene to avoid contracting covid19 as their immune systems would struggle to fight off the virus once infected.

Although spreading rampantly, it is noteworthy that the highest number of infected people in Africa has been recorded in Egypt with 80 cases. However, the country has reported one death of 60-year-old German tourists.

Meanwhile, WHO has urged African governments to minimize public gatherings and set up various coronavirus testing centers to ensure and ensure early treatment.