Virus spreading undetected

CASES of community transmission of Covid-19 are growing in Africa, particularly in Ethiopia, and a new strategy for testing is needed to prevent this, the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said yesterday.

Community transmission refers to cases where patients had no travel history or known contact with infected people – worrying for health workers because it means the virus is moving undetected through the population.

“We are beginning to see sustained community transmission within Ethiopia and many other countries across Africa. That means we need to increase our public health measures like distancing, wearing of masks, washing of hands,” Africa CDC’s John Nkengasong told journalists.

He said countries should modify their screening methodology and move beyond just screening travellers at airports.