Covid-19 resurgence not threat—expert
M
alawi has seen a resurgence of Covid-19 cases with Nsanje District Health Office (DHO) reporting seven cases on Monday, but a public health expert has said there is no cause for alarm.
Kamuzu University of Health Sciences professor of public health and epidemiology Adamson Muula expressed the sentiments in an interview yesterday following reports that cases of infections are still being registered in parts of the country.
On Monday, Nsanje DHO reported seven Covid-19 cases while Ministry of Health records indicated that the country registered 526 cases between June and December 2023 despite there being no admissions and deaths.
A statement from the ministry said December 2023 registered 13 cases, September recorded 71, with June, October and November registering the most infections.
Reads the communication in part: “Global trends showed an increase in cases during December 2023, and this was reflected in 4 of the 6 World Health Organisation [WHO] regions, including Africa. But, there were significant decreases in admissions and deaths in all the regions.”
But in an interview yesterday, Muula said Covid-19 is not a threat.
However, he said Covid-19 will not end and that it was still in circulation just like common cold.
“People are concerned because of the reports of infections coming out. Most of us have been infected once or twice but probably we didn’t know it,” said Muula.
He added that with the present immunity levels among the public, it was difficult for a Covid-19 variant, new or old, to pose a big threat.
He, however, cautioned those with underlying conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and those aged 60, to get vaccinated.
“Covid is still spreading, but many people in Malawi have a strong immunity against the disease. This includes those vaccinated and those infected several times,” he said.
During a media briefing held last week, WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that Covid-19 was no longer a global health emergency, despite the virus circulating, changing, and killing.
He indicated that data revealed increasing transmission in December, fuelled by gatherings over the holiday period, and by the JN.1 variant, which is now the most-commonly reported globally.
The situation in Malawi comes barely a day after the WHO cautioned Malawi alongside its neighbours Zambia and Mozambique to remain vigilant to avert further spread of cholera.
