Page 9 - Nile Explorer 10 Final-3-FINAL O-WITH NEW ALDO PHO COPY FOR PRINT

one test per 1,000 people per week.
Some independent reports show that
most countries in Africa undertook
fewer than 8,000 tests per million
people. For example, among the lowest
testing rates are Tanzania (63 tests per
million), DRC (467 tests per million),
Niger (373 tests per million), Chad
(383 tests per million), and Burundi
(563 tests per million).

Please, don’t tell anyone this: Nigeria,
the continent’s most populous nation,
tests one out of every 50,000 people
per day.

To compare, Britain, United Arab Race to coronavirus vaccaine
Emirates and Singapore have
conducted 205,782, 472,590, and
199,904 tests per million respectively. the virus - limits at 37 (Lab A) and at considering the amount of virus one
40 (Lab B). What this means is that is exposed to. As I’d mentioned, the
In fact, experts have warned that
without international support to if my viral load is comparatively low, CTs depend on the patient’s viral load
increase testing, many African I could test positive to SARS-CoV-2 and because these are rarely included
nations could face “an undetected and with machine B and negative with A. in the results sent to the doctor, a
uncontrolled spread” akin to driving a Let’s forget CTs for now and consider positive test doesn’t indicate how
infectious someone is. In one survey
car with the lights off in the dark. a more burning question: Even if the in Massachusetts, 90 per cent of people
tests are few and inaccurate, surely, we
Related to test-rates is the type of tests testing positive carried barely any virus
used and their efficacy. First, we know can’t miss the body bags, can we? I’ll that could be deemed contagious.
start with the obvious.
that the accuracy of antibody tests Fourth, researchers have tentatively
varies widely and these tests cannot First, Africa has a more youthful estimated that about 40 per cent of
be relied on except for these specific population and lower rates of obesity coronavirus infections do not produce
purposes.. But being inaccurate is not compared to many countries in the any symptoms and when people wear
the only problem with antibody tests. west. But then, as more young people masks, the proportion of asymptomatic
Some experts have argued that because test positive for coronavirus, there’s cases increases. Scientists have
antibody tests can’t tell if you’re no guarantee that more of them won’t concluded that although face covering
immune to subsequent infections, die as multiple risk factors coalesce. do not make people impervious to
they’re useless in deciding whether to infection, they could lead to milder
ease mask wearing or social distancing. Second, we now know that airborne disease lead to milder, potentially
transmission is a far greater risk than
Even the most widely used and contaminated surfaces and that the reducing hospitalizations and deaths.
accurate of tests, the PCR, may be virus spreads through singing and Lastly, it’s possible that weak mortality
apt for clinical diagnosis but it’s not shouting as much as through coughing. surveillance systems (Covid-19
very useful for public health and What that means is that while any mortality rates are based on measuring
policy-decision making. The truth infected person is a potential vector, the number of excess natural deaths
is that as currently used, PCR tests it’s the super spreading events—bars, reported) could be obscuring the true
are more qualitative (give a yes or no schools, churches, weddings, funerals picture. Ultimately, the jury is still out
answer— infected or not infected) and such crowded places— that are and I’d urge caution for now.
than quantitative (amount of virus in major drivers of the pandemic. It’s
the body and contagiousness). estimated that just 10 to 20 per cent Dr Obwogo is a medical doctor,
of coronavirus infections account for specialist in Public Health Medicine,
How does PCR testing work? By 80 per cent of transmissions and most author, entrepreneur, consultant,
amplifying the viral genetic matter people who get infected simply don’t past Chevening scholar and founder
in cycles. Now assume that two PCR pass it on. of Kienyeji Kenya Farmers’ Network
machines or laboratories have set their Initiative (KiFaNi).
cycle thresholds, or CTs— the number Third, when it comes to transmission, Email: bobwogo@hotmail.com
of amplification cycles needed to find a positive test is meaningless without Website: www.KienyejiKenya.com

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