The number of Covid-19 pollutants has “significantly increased” since the beginning of this year, according to the WHO and the Ministry of Health. It is too early to talk about a “new wave”, the organization believes. What worries the authorities is the increase in symptomatic cases and serious forms of the disease.
WHO calls for “vigilance”. The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 is still relatively low in the Central African Republic. 5170 since the epidemic began … But it has risen sharply in recent weeks. And the increase in the number of tests performed is not enough to explain it to Severin von Xylander, WHO representative in the country.
“In January we had 25 symptomatic cases and in March – which is not even clear – we are already at 158. And if you compare the asymptomatic ones we had 29 and we are at 180. So safe for the asymptomatic ones. mainly related to the screening strategy. But for the symptomatic, it is obviously an increase, which is also in line with the trends in other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. ”
Concerned about the possible presence of a new strain
And it is this trend that worries the Central African Minister of Health, Pierre Somse. Compared to 2020, the proportion that actually explains the disease has increased among the number of infected: an average of ten cases per day now.
“We have hospital cases that are quite complicated, we still have a significant number of deaths. And we ask ourselves many questions. We wonder why the vulnerability would suddenly worsen, when last year the number of people who became ill at their fingertips was counted, the Minister of Health wonders. It may be the circulation of new strains that is more virulent. Research is ongoing with Institut Pasteur. We also intend to send samples to other foreign countries to make an overview of the variants that are in circulation in the country. ”
The authorities have intensified their epidemiological surveillance. But the minister deplores the lack of respect for barrier gestures and the reluctance of some patients to go to treatment centers dedicated to Covid-19 for treatment. He therefore fears that the number of deaths is in fact “much more important” than that recorded.
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