COVID-19 Across Africa: Epidemiologic Heterogeneity and Necessity of Contextually Relevant Transmission Models and Intervention Strategies

Jean Olivier Twahirwa Rwema; Daouda Diouf; Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya; Jean Christophe Rusatira; Alain Manouan; Emelyne Uwizeye; Fatou M Drame; Ubald Tamoufe; Stefan David Baral

doi:10.7326/M20-2628

COVID-19 Across Africa: Epidemiologic Heterogeneity and Necessity of Contextually Relevant Transmission Models and Intervention Strategies

Ann Intern Med. 2020 Nov 3;173(9):752-753. doi: 10.7326/M20-2628. Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Authors

Jean Olivier Twahirwa Rwema¹, Daouda Diouf², Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya³, Jean Christophe Rusatira⁴, Alain Manouan⁵, Emelyne Uwizeye⁶, Fatou M Drame⁷, Ubald Tamoufe⁸, Stefan David Baral¹

Affiliations

¹ Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (J.O.T., S.D.B.).
² Enda Santé, Dakar, Senegal (D.D.).
³ North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa (N.P.).
⁴ Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (J.C.R.).
⁵ International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) (A.M.).
⁶ University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland (E.U.).
⁷ Gaston Berger University, Saint-Louis, Senegal (F.M.D.).
⁸ Johns Hopkins Cameroon Program, Yaoundé, Cameroon (U.T.).

Abstract

This commentary discusses the COVID-19 pandemic on the African continent. The authors describe why the international community should be hesitant in developing forecasts and prevention strategies for COVID-19 in the absence of integration of African data and leadership by African institutions.

Publication types

Editorial

MeSH terms

Africa / epidemiology
COVID-19
Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
Coronavirus Infections / mortality
Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control
Coronavirus Infections / transmission
Humans
Infection Control* / methods
Pandemics / prevention & control
Pandemics / statistics & numerical data
Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
Pneumonia, Viral / mortality
Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control
Pneumonia, Viral / transmission