Sub-Saharan Africa: COVID-19 transmission continues across the region through early March. /update 25

Event

Several countries and territories in Sub-Saharan Africa continue to report COVID-19 transmission. According to data through March 1 from the WHO, the following countries and territories in the region have identified confirmed COVID-19 cases:

Pending transmission status:

• Tanzania: 509 cases

Sporadic cases:

• Djibouti: 6,087 cases*

• Mauritius: 619 cases

Community transmission:

• South Africa: 1,513,959 cases

• Ethiopia: 159,972 cases*

• Nigeria: 156,017 cases

• Kenya: 106,125 cases*

• Ghana: 84,023 cases

• Zambia: 79,002 cases

• Mozambique: 59,607 cases

• Uganda: 40,367 cases

• Namibia: 39,003 cases*

• Zimbabwe: 36,115 cases

• Cameroon: 35,714 cases

• Senegal: 34,732 cases

• Cote d'Ivoire: 32,791 cases

• Malawi: 32,008 cases

• Botswana: 30,727 cases*

• Sudan: 30,364 cases

• The Democratic Republic of the Congo: 25,962 cases

• Angola: 20,854 cases

• Madagascar: 19,831 cases

• Rwanda: 18,986 cases*

• Mayotte: 17,600 cases*

• Mauritania: 17,217 cases

• Eswatini: 17,025 cases

• Guinea: 16,081 cases*

• Cape Verde: 15,432 cases*

• Gabon: 14,849 cases*

• Reunion: 12,416 cases*

• Burkina Faso: 12,030 cases

• Lesotho: 10,495 cases

• Republic of Congo: 8,820 cases

• Mali: 8,390 cases

• South Sudan: 8,144 cases*

• Somalia: 7,392 cases*

• Togo: 6,933 cases*

• Equatorial Guinea: 6,095 cases*

• Benin: 5,634 cases

• Central African Republic: 5,004 cases

• Niger: 4,740 cases

• Gambia: 4,712 cases*

• Sierra Leone: 3,887 cases*

• Chad: 3,986 cases

• Comoros: 3,578 cases

• Guinea-Bissau: 3,262 cases*

• Eritrea: 2,866 cases*

• Seychelles: 2,688 cases

• Burundi: 2,217 cases*

• Liberia: 2,014 cases

• Sao Tome and Principe: 1,828 cases

*As of March 1, active cases in the country are increasing.

Context

COVID-19 is a viral respiratory disease caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Human-to-human transmission does occur, primarily through respiratory droplets from infected individuals or contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. Symptoms occur 1-14 days following exposure (average of 3-7 days). These symptoms typically include fever, fatigue, and dry cough; less common symptoms include headache, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, reddening of the eyes, skin rash, or discoloration of the fingers or toes. Symptoms may worsen to difficulty breathing, pneumonia, and organ failure - especially in those with underlying, chronic medical conditions. Some infected individuals display no symptoms.

Older individuals and people of any age with chronic medical conditions or compromised immunity should consider postponing nonessential travel, including domestic travel, and take special precautions to avoid becoming ill, especially where sustained community transmission of COVID-19 is ongoing. All individuals should monitor their health and limit interactions with others for 14 days after returning from travel.

Advice

Emphasize basic health precautions, especially frequent handwashing with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue, maintaining distance from others, and washing hands). There is no evidence that the influenza vaccine, antibiotics, or antiviral medications will prevent this disease, highlighting the importance of diligent basic health precautions.

Resources

WHO coronavirus knowledge base
WHO: Public health considerations while resuming international travel
US CDC: Guidance for Businesses and Workplaces
US CDC: Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities
Mental Health Considerations during COVID-19 Outbreak
US CDC: Manage Anxiety and Stress
New England Journal of Medicine: COVID Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions