This archive report was first published on 6 January 2022.
January 6, 2022, marked a crucial moment in the fight against Covid-19 as Dr. John Nkengasong, the Director of the Africa Center for Disease Control, sounded the alarm on the emergence of new variants.
According to Dr. Nkengasong, the continued spread of the virus is aiding its mutation into more variants, and as long as the virus continues to circulate, new variants will continue to emerge.
“Variants will continue to emerge as long as the viruses continue to circulate, which is characteristic of RNA viruses which usually mutate in order to survive,” Dr. Nkengasong noted.
He emphasized that the key to preventing the emergence of new variants lies in preventing transmission, which can be achieved through adherence to public health measures such as washing hands with soap and water, wearing masks appropriately, and keeping social distance.
Dr. Nkengasong also urged member states to increase the uptake of vaccination against Covid-19, particularly among individuals with compromised immune systems, who need to adhere to anti-retroviral therapy to keep their viral load low and help their bodies fight off the virus.
He cited data from South Africa, which shows that individuals with HIV take a long time to clear the virus, allowing it to escape and lead to the emergence of more variants.
Dr. Nkengasong called on African Union member states not to relent in the fight against Covid-19, urging them to work towards ensuring that public health measures are able to function effectively and prevent the spread of the virus.
