https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230613/ghanaian-scientist-reveals-malaria-induced-tolerance-protected-africans-from-severe-covid-19-1059877289.html
Ghanaian Scientist Reveals 'Malaria-Induced Tolerance Protected Africans From Severe COVID-19'
Ghanaian Scientist Reveals 'Malaria-Induced Tolerance Protected Africans From Severe COVID-19'
Sputnik Africa
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated COVID-19 as a worldwide pandemic. Three years later, in May 2023, the WHO stated it does not... 13.06.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-06-13T12:16+0200
2023-06-13T12:16+0200
2023-06-13T12:59+0200
sub-saharan africa
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In contrast to losses on other continents, COVID-19 had a lesser impact on Africa due to the presence of malaria, Professor Gordon Akanzuwine Awandare, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs at the University of Ghana has stated.According to Awandare, both diseases have the same symptoms, while the majority of those affected have been asymptomatic (clinical symptom-free).His study also revealed that a high level of interaction with malaria parasites has led to the development of clinical immunity against their tolerance, which was gained via recurrent infections, the researcher noted.According to the study, the tolerance that is developed via repeated exposure to parasites from malaria aids in battling other viruses that have comparable disease mechanisms, such as COVID-19. Professor Awandare cited a number of studies his research team carried out to support their findings, saying the evidence showed that the immune system developed the ability to tolerate malaria parasites after multiple infections by preventing the cells from responding to additional stimulation.Additionally, he added the research, which used COVID-19, demonstrated that immune cell reprogramming gained by living in a malaria-endemic region shielded Ghanaians — and, by extension, all of Africa — against the onset of serious illness following infections with the SARS-CoV-2.These results, he claimed, helped to clarify the dynamics of COVID-19 infections and death on a worldwide scale.According to Prof. Awandare, who cited the World Health Organization (WHO), as of May 31, 2023, there were 767,364,883 confirmed instances of the illness worldwide, compared to 9,532,788 reported cases for Africa and 171,653 cases for Ghana. However, there were 6,938,353 verified fatalities worldwide, while only 176,371 moralities and 1,462 deaths, respectively, occurred in Africa and Ghana. The research, he said, refuted a number of hypotheses that had been put forth as explanations for Africa's low figures, including the notion that the continent's climate made it difficult for the disease to survive among Africans. He acknowledged that the figures recorded for Africa and Ghana could be higher than the official figures. More than 20,000 individuals underwent testing as part of the study, he said, and it was carried out in Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Ghana.As Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), stated on May 5 this year, COVID-19 is no longer regarded as a pandemic by the global health body. The top official highlighted that COVID-19 continues to be a hazard to public health. Since the COVID-19 epidemic began in 2020, at least 20 million people have died from it, according to the head of the WHO.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230421/africa-praised-by-who-after-it-launches-first-mrna-vaccine-center-1058741815.html
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science, west africa, ghana, university, covid-19, disease, malaria
science, west africa, ghana, university, covid-19, disease, malaria
Ghanaian Scientist Reveals 'Malaria-Induced Tolerance Protected Africans From Severe COVID-19'
12:16 13.06.2023 (Updated: 12:59 13.06.2023) On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated COVID-19 as a worldwide pandemic. Three years later, in May 2023, the WHO stated it does not consider COVID-19 a pandemic anymore, though outlining that the disease still poses a threat to global health.
In contrast to losses on other continents, COVID-19 had a lesser impact on Africa due to the presence of malaria, Professor Gordon Akanzuwine Awandare, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs at the University of Ghana has stated.
According to Awandare, both diseases have the same symptoms, while the majority of those affected have been asymptomatic (clinical symptom-free).
His study also revealed that a high level of
interaction with malaria parasites has led to the development of clinical immunity against their tolerance, which was gained via recurrent infections, the researcher noted.
According to the study, the tolerance that is developed via repeated exposure to parasites from malaria aids in battling other viruses that have comparable disease mechanisms, such as COVID-19.
Professor Awandare cited a number of studies his research team carried out to support their findings, saying the evidence showed that the immune system developed the ability to tolerate malaria parasites after multiple infections by preventing the cells from responding to additional stimulation.
Additionally, he added the research, which used COVID-19, demonstrated that immune cell reprogramming gained by living in a malaria-endemic region shielded Ghanaians — and, by extension, all of Africa — against the onset of serious illness following infections with the SARS-CoV-2.
These results, he claimed, helped to clarify the dynamics of COVID-19 infections and death on a worldwide scale.
"Malaria is not such a curse. Data indicates that malaria-induced tolerance to inflammatory stimulation protected us from severe COVID-19 and death," the professor stated.
According to Prof. Awandare, who cited the World Health Organization (WHO), as of May 31, 2023, there were 767,364,883 confirmed instances of the illness worldwide, compared to 9,532,788 reported cases for Africa and 171,653 cases for Ghana.
However, there were 6,938,353 verified fatalities worldwide, while only 176,371 moralities and 1,462 deaths, respectively, occurred in Africa and Ghana.
The research, he said, refuted a number of hypotheses that had been put forth as explanations for Africa's low figures, including the notion that the continent's climate made it difficult for the disease to survive among Africans. He acknowledged that the figures recorded for Africa and Ghana could be higher than the official figures.
More than 20,000 individuals underwent testing as part of the study, he said, and it was carried out in Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Ghana.
As Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), stated on May 5 this year, COVID-19
is no longer regarded as a pandemic by the global health body.
"Yesterday, the Emergency Committee met for the 15th time and recommended to me that I declare an end to the public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice. It is therefore with great hope that I declare COVID19 over as a global health emergency," the WHO head told a briefing.
The top official highlighted that COVID-19 continues to be a hazard to public health. Since the COVID-19 epidemic began in 2020, at least 20 million people have died from it, according to the head of the WHO.
