More than 200,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Africa since the start of the pandemic, according to an AFP tally compiled from official records as of 1700 GMT. The 54 countries of the region may not have suffered as badly as other parts of the world—at least according to the officially recorded figures. They […]
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AstraZeneca ceo says committed to supply COVAX, calls for open borders
FILE PHOTO: Pascal Soriot, chief executive officer of pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, attends an interview with Reuters in Shanghai, China November 4, 2019. Picture taken November 4, 2019. REUTERS/Brenda GohGENEVA (Reuters) – The ceo of Astrazeneca Pascal Soriot said on Thursday that although the Anglo-Swedish company had hit “bumps on the road” it had been able […]
South Africa suspends vaccinations as worries grow over AstraZeneca shot
South Africa suspended the start of its AstraZeneca inoculation programme over concerns the shot does not work on a new variant, with WHO experts due to meet Monday to discuss the vaccine already facing questions about its efficacy for over-65s. A trial showed the vaccine provides only “minimal” protection against mild to moderate COVID-19 caused […]
Despite risk of birth defects, HIV drug should be considered for women in South Africa
Although a woman’s use of the HIV drug dolutegravir at conception may increase the risk of often-fatal neural tube defects in her child, a new study suggests that the risk may be offset by the drug’s ability to decrease deaths among women and prevent HIV transmission to their children and sexual partners. The report, led […]
Preparing for the outbreak: helping research swing into action in central Africa
When an outbreak strikes, speed is critical. Health workers must act quickly not only to contain and treat an emerging or re-emerging disease, but also to use this window to evaluate potential treatments and vaccines. And the challenge becomes even greater in sub-Saharan Africa when you’re trying to develop new approaches in the face of […]
New, large sequence panel enables population genetics research in Africa
Geneticists have assembled the largest sets of African genomic data available to date, creating a resource that will help researchers understand the genetic structure of Africa as well as the effects of genetic variation on protein function and disease. The findings underscore the importance of including globally diverse participant cohorts in genetics research, and were […]
$20 blood test could help diagnose hepatitis B patients across Africa
A simple $20 blood test could help diagnose thousands of patients with hepatitis B in need of treatment in some of Africa’s poorest regions. Researchers have developed an accurate diagnostic score that consists of inexpensive blood tests to identify patients who require immediate treatment against the deadly hepatitis B virus—which can lead to liver damage […]