The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: A syndemic perspective

One Health, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 12, P. 100228 - 100228

Published: Feb. 18, 2021

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has affected communities, populations, and countries throughout the world. As developed, extent to which disease interacted with already existing endemic, non-communicable infectious diseases became evident, hence deeply influencing health outcomes. Additionally, a synergistic effect been demonstrated also socio-economic, cultural, contextual determinants of seem contribute poorer accumulating social disadvantages. In this essay, using as starting point syndemic theory that translates cumulative intertwined factors between different epidemics, we argue is one issue nature failure acknowledge contributes weakened policy-making processes public responses ineffective policies programs.

Language: Английский

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Xuanfei Baidu formula alleviates impaired mitochondrial dynamics and activated NLRP3 inflammasome by repressing NF-κB and MAPK pathways in LPS-induced ALI and inflammation models

Phytomedicine, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 108, P. 154545 - 154545

Published: Nov. 9, 2022

Xuanfei Baidu Formula (XBF) is an effective traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) remedy for treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China. This herbal has shown effects reducing clinical symptoms and shortening the average length of hospital stay COVID-19 patients. Previous studies have demonstrated that XBF alleviates acute lung injury (ALI) by regulating macrophage-mediated immune inflammation, but mechanisms action remain elusive. study aimed to evaluate lung-protective anti-inflammatory its underlying mechanisms. Here, XBF's were investigated ALI mouse model induced inhalation atomized lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Besides, LPS-induced inflammation RAW264.7 cells was used clarify against ALI. Our results showed treatment alleviated injury, as evidenced reduced histopathological changes, pulmonary alveoli permeability, fibrosis, apoptosis tissues. In addition, decreased levels tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β serum bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), white blood cell (WBC) count BALF. Furthermore, consistent with vivo assay, inhibited inflammatory cytokines release pro-inflammatory polarization cells. Mechanistically, increased mitochondrial fusion upregulating Mfn1 attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome activation repressing Casp11, respectively, inhibit NF-κB MAPK pathways, thus macrophage polarization. this study, we demonstrate exerts anti-ALI -inflammatory recovering dynamics activation, providing a biological illustration efficacy

Language: Английский

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What Could Explain the Lower COVID-19 Burden in Africa despite Considerable Circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus?

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 18(16), P. 8638 - 8638

Published: Aug. 16, 2021

The differential spread and impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), across regions is a major focus for researchers policy makers. Africa has attracted tremendous attention, due to predictions catastrophic impacts that have not yet materialized. Early in the pandemic, seemingly low African case count was largely attributed testing reporting. However, there reason consider many countries attenuated early on. Factors explaining include government community-wide actions, population distribution, social contacts, ecology human habitation. While recent data from seroprevalence studies posit more extensive circulation virus, continuing COVID-19 burden may be explained by demographic pyramid, prevalence pre-existing conditions, trained immunity, genetics, broader sociocultural dynamics. Though all these prongs contribute observed profile Africa, some provide stronger evidence than others. This review important expand what known about pandemics, enhancing scientific understanding gearing appropriate public health responses. Furthermore, it highlights potential lessons draw global on assumptions regarding deadly viral given its long experience with infectious diseases.

Language: Английский

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Minimizing the impact of the triple burden of COVID-19, tuberculosis and HIV on health services in sub-Saharan Africa

International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 113, P. S16 - S21

Published: March 20, 2021

Language: Английский

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Commentary on COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in sub-Saharan Africa

Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 7(7), P. 130 - 130

Published: July 11, 2022

Rates of vaccination against COVID-19 remain lower in sub-Saharan Africa than other low and middle-income regions. This is, part, attributed to vaccine hesitancy, mainly due misinformation about origin, efficacy safety. From August December 2021, we gathered the latest experiences opinions on four hesitancy-related areas (policies, perceived risk religious beliefs, misinformation) from 12 African researchers, whom have published hesitancy. The authors included two political business experts, six public health specialists, five epidemiologists, biostatisticians ten countries( Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe). authors' overarching were that influences, beliefs exists they collectively contribute Communication strategies should target populations initially thought by policy makers be at risk, use multiple communication avenues address major concerns population.

Language: Английский

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COVID-19 preparedness: capacity to manufacture vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics in sub-Saharan Africa

Globalization and Health, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 17(1)

Published: March 3, 2021

Abstract Objective The COVID-19 pandemic is a biosecurity threat, and many resource-rich countries are stockpiling and/or making plans to secure supplies of vaccine, therapeutics, diagnostics for their citizens. We review the products that being investigated prevention, diagnosis, treatment COVID-19; discuss challenges in sub-Saharan Africa may face with access due limited capacity manufacture them Africa; make recommendations on actions mitigate these ensure health security during this unprecedented future public-health crises. Main body Sub-Saharan will not be self-reliant vaccines when they developed. It can, however, take advantage existing initiatives aimed at supporting vaccine resource-limited settings such as partnership AstraZeneca, Coalition Epidemic Preparedness Innovation, Global Alliance Vaccine Immunisation, Serum Institute India, World Health Organization’s Technology Access Pool. Accessing effective therapeutics also major challenge Africa, production frequently geared towards profitable Western markets ill-adapted realities. region can benefit from pooled procurement therapy by Centres Disease Control Prevention African Union. If use convalescent plasma patients who severely ill found effective, product minimally challenging since has pool recovered human resources man supportive laboratories. needs drive local development rapid-test kits other COVID-19. Conclusion vaccines, Africans. This should confronted collaborating developers; therapeutics; testing diagnostic materials. wake-up call build manufacturing one needed address

Language: Английский

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Youth Relationships in the Era of COVID-19: A Mixed-Methods Study Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Kenya

Journal of Adolescent Health, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 69(5), P. 754 - 761

Published: Aug. 28, 2021

Measures to mitigate COVID-19's impact may inhibit development of healthy youth relationships, affecting partnership quality and sexual reproductive health (SRH) outcomes.

Language: Английский

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Antibiotic dispensing practices during COVID-19 and implications for antimicrobial resistance (AMR): parallel mystery client studies in Uganda and Tanzania

Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Feb. 11, 2023

Over-the-counter antibiotic access is common in low-and-middle-income countries and this may accelerate antimicrobial resistance. Our study explores critical aspects of the drug seller-client interaction dispensing patterns for simulated COVID-19 symptoms during pandemic two sites Tanzania Uganda, with different government responses to pandemic.Research assistants posing as clients approached types sellers such pharmacies (Pharms), shops (DSs), accredited outlets (ADDOs) Mwanza, (nPharms = 415, nADDOs 116) Mbarara, Uganda 440, nDSs 67), from June 10 July 30, 2021. The mystery held no prescription sought advice sellers. They documented quality their type drugs dispensed.Adherence preventive measures vigilance was low both but significantly higher than Tanzania. A percentage Mbarara (Pharms 36%, DSs 35%, P-value 0.947) compared Mwanza 9%, ADDOs 4%, 0.112) identified client's possibly COVID-19. More three-quarters that sold prescription-only medicines 86%, 89%) 93%, 97%) did not ask MCs a prescription. relatively high 51%, 67%) 31%, 42%) partial course without any hesitation. Of those who antibiotics, proportion 73%, 78%, 0.580) 40% 46%, 0.537) antibiotics relevant treating secondary bacterial infections patients.Our highlights towards symptoms, widespread propensity dispense prescription, doses antibiotics. This implies related further drive AMR. also need more efforts improve stewardship among response prepare them future health emergencies.

Language: Английский

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The Determinants of the Low COVID-19 Transmission and Mortality Rates in Africa: A Cross-Country Analysis

Frontiers in Public Health, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: Oct. 21, 2021

Background: More than 1 year after the beginning of international spread coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), reasons explaining its apparently lower reported burden in Africa are still to be fully elucidated. Few studies previously investigated potential this epidemiological observation using data at level a few African countries. However, an updated analysis considering various waves and variables across array categories, with focus on countries might help better understand COVID-19 pandemic continent. Thus, we for persistently transmission mortality rates Africa. Methods: Data were collected from publicly available well-known online sources. The cumulative numbers cases deaths per million population by up February 2021 used estimate COVID-19, respectively. covariates several sources: clinical/diseases data, health system performance, demographic parameters, economic indicators, climatic, pollution, radiation variables, use social media. collinearities corrected variance inflation factor (VIF) selected fitted multiple regression model R statistical package. Results: Our (adjusted R-squared: 0.7) found that number tests population, GINI index, global security (GHS) mean body mass index (BMI) significantly associated ( P < 0.05) population. No association was between median life expectancy, proportion rural Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) coverage rate. On other hand, diabetes prevalence, nurses, GHS R-squared 0.5). Moreover, expectancy respiratory infections rate showed trend towards significance. BCG or communicable disease burden. Conclusions: Low capacity, together some clinical socio-economic factors predictors results emphasize need strengthen overall capacity efficiently detect respond public crises.

Language: Английский

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The Missing Millions: Uncovering the Burden of Covid‐19 Cases and Deaths in the African Region

Population and Development Review, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 50(1), P. 7 - 58

Published: March 1, 2024

Abstract Early in 2020, experts warned of the devastating toll that COVID‐19 would have on African countries. By close 2021, however, Africa remained one least affected regions world, leading commentators to speculate about a so‐called “Africa paradox”. This review evaluates current research and data establish burden infections mortality region. Despite claims countries were spared from infection, there is now considerable serological evidence confirming people ultimately experienced levels SARS‐CoV2 infection comparable or more than other global regions. Additionally, multiple measures demonstrate substantial impacts specific where and/or seroprevalence are available. The gaps between recorded cases large increased over course pandemic. Researchers also observe significant deaths mortality, attributable weak civil vital registration systems, limited health care resources, higher at younger ages. Our findings reinforce need for equitable distribution resources expanded disease surveillance across continent.

Language: Английский

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