#COVID19 |

#BREAKING: Marburg virus disease could become global outbreak

March 27, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has not ruled out the possibility of the Marburg virus disease (MVD) becoming a global health pandemic if necessary precautions are not taken on time. By Michael Gwarisa According to the Africa Center for Disease Control, MVD is a highly fatal, zoonotic haemorrhagic disease caused by the Marburg virus. Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact with body fluids from infected persons, or contact with equipment and other materials contaminated with infectious blood or tissues, body fluids of infected people, and contaminated surfaces or materials. Giving…

French Government supports routine immunization and COVID-19 vaccination in Zimbabwe

March 14, 2023 Healthtimes

WITH World Health Day commemorations slated for April 8, 2023 looming, the Ambassador of France, HE Laurent Chevallier, and the French Regional Counselor for Global Health in Southern Africa, Dr Thomas Mourez, recently had a field visit in Harare assessing how the country is faring in routine immunization. The visit was facilitated by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and UNICEF. By Staff Reporter The visit comes after the French Government contributed 2.5 million USD towards the COVAX facility programme. The funding will strengthen routine immunization and the integration…

COVID-19 still a global health emergency, says WHO

January 30, 2023 Healthtimes

The verdict is in: The COVID-19 pandemic is still a global health emergency, the World Health Organization has concluded. But it might not be for much longer. The decision from the WHO — exactly three years after COVID-19 was first declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) — comes after a meeting of the COVID-19 emergency committee on January 27. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus concurred with the committee’s advice that there is a continued risk posed by COVID-19. The news comes as countries increasingly deliberate how…

#BREAKING: Harare Typhoid cases going up…Three Contaminated Boreholes closed

January 19, 2023January 19, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

FOLLOWING the resurgence of Typhoid, the City of Harare recently decommissioned three water boreholes linked to the recent surge in infections in some parts of Harare. By Michael Gwarisa The Typhoid outbreak was reported in December last year (2022) in the Western suburbs of Harare mainly in children below the age of five. Speaking in an interview with HealthTimes, Dr Michael Vere, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Officer in the City of Harare said they have recorded 80 Typhoid cases to date with Glen Norah being the most affected. Glen…

Botswana Detects OMICRON SUB-VARIANT, XBB. 1,5

January 13, 2023January 13, 2023 Healthtimes

A 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐚 government official, Mr. Malepa Dibonwa has announced that Botswana has detected the Omicron variant XBB.1.5. This comes barely a few days after neighboring South Africa also announced detection of Omicron sub-variant, bringing t two the total number of Southern African countries that have since detected the variant. Members of the public are informed that the sub lineage of the Omicron variant XBB.1.5 has been detected in Botswana and South Africa. Only 1 case of the Omicron sub lineage XBB.1.5 has so far been detected in Botswana. The sub…

Countries No Longer Sharing COVID-19 Sequencing Data- Dr Tedros

January 12, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

THE number of COVID-19 sequences being shared by countries has dropped by more than 90% while the number of countries sharing sequences has fallen by a third since the onset of the Omicron variant in 2021, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a media briefing, WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was now difficult to give data relating to COVID-19 due to lack of sequencing data. It’s now three years since the first sequence of SARS-CoV-2 was shared with the world.…

South Africa records first case of most transmissible XBB.1.5 Covid variant

January 9, 2023 Healthtimes

South Africa has found its first case of a coronavirus infection caused by the new, highly transmissible XBB.1.5 variant. Maria Van Kerkhove, Covid-19 technical lead at the World’s Health Organization, this week called XBB.1.5 “the most transmissible sub-variant” detected so far in the pandemic. Nicknamed the “kraken variant” by some for its ability to spread, so far there hasn’t been significant differences in severity identified between cases caused by XBB.1.5 and those from other variants. The WHO plans an updated assessment on the variant’s risks in the coming days. Read…

Omicron Sub Variants Make Up 97.5% Of All New COVID-19 Cases In China

January 5, 2023January 5, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) which was recently in China to investigate the surge in new COVID-19 cases, has reported that Omicron still accounts for majority of infections together with its sub-variants BA.5.2 AND BF.7. By Michael Gwarisa The TAG-VE meets regularly to review the latest scientific evidence on circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants and advises WHO on whether a change in public health strategies is warranted. The TAG-VE met on 3 January 2023 to discuss the COVID-19 situation in mainland China. During the meeting,…

Zimbabwe Records 5 000 COVID-19 Cumulative Deaths

January 5, 2023January 5, 2023 Kuda Pembere

Over 5 000 people in Zimbabwe succumbed to COVID-19 related illnesses from the first death recorded on March 23, 2020 to the last day of 2022. By Kuda Pembere During the period under discussion, 260 146 cases were identified since the first case discovered on March 20, 2020. Recovery-wise, 254 067 have recovered between March 2020 to December 31, 2022. As of today (31 December 2022), Zimbabwe has recorded 260 146 Cases, 254 067 recoveries and 5 639 Deaths,” read the Ministry of Health and Child Care COVID-19 situation update…

COVID-19 Rears Ugly Head Again As WHO meets with Chinese officials on current COVID-19 situation

January 4, 2023January 4, 2023 Michael Gwarisa

A high-level meeting took place on 30 December between WHO and China about the current surge in COVID-19 cases, to seek further information on the situation, and to offer WHO’s expertise and further support. By Michael Gwarisa High-level officials from China’s National Health Commission and the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration briefed WHO on China’s evolving strategy and actions in the areas of epidemiology, monitoring of variants, vaccination, clinical care, communication and R&D. WHO again asked for regular sharing of specific and real-time data on the epidemiological situation —…