Medical experts with experience around the continent fear that the coronavirus would hit really hard if it was to erupt in Lagos or Kinshasa. Mostly due to the large populations. Exacerbated in Kinshasa by bad governance and corrupt authorities, and in Lagos by the mobility of the population.
The damage the virus could do in Subsaharan Africa would be devastating because of the lack of proper medical care, the inability to quarantine, poor healthcare facilities and quality of life, poor infrastructures… Large numbers of people could die.
A few days ago, a report by the provincial government of Hubei, the epicenter of the virus, caused a sensation when a 70-year-old man showed the first symptoms 27 days after infection.
A longer incubation period would have drastic consequences. If, for example, many people are released from their two-week compulsory quarantine, it could possibly lead to a second wave of infections.
Bill Gates has been talking about disease and bioterrorism for years. His foundation has spent a lot of time and money on major projects all over Africa.
However, Africa has a very young population spread over a large area, except in cities where the density of the population is high and people have no access to clean water and adequate health services.
The coronavirus spreads faster among old people. People under 50 are barely affected by it, and it doesn’t kill children under 10. It’s a big threat to Europe because of all the aging population there.
Gates says African health systems may be overwhelmed and believes that the virus is more concerning than Ebola.
