COVID-19 Testing Lags Across Africa

ADF STAFF

The number of COVID-19 infections in Africa likely is much larger than reported due to low testing rates across the continent.

The World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) May findings suggest that low testing, a lack of adherence to public health measures, and large gatherings at political rallies in countries such as Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea and Kenya have caused infection spikes.

Public health experts characterize testing as a cornerstone of a country’s COVID-19 response, which relies mostly on case counts.

Low test rates cause concern as devastating COVID-19 surges in India and other countries suggest the pandemic is far from over in Africa, according to Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO’s regional director for Africa.

New infections in Africa “are still not being detected among known contacts,” Moeti said, according to the Anadolu Agency. “Investigation of clusters of cases and contact tracing are worryingly low in most countries in the region. We must scale up testing, including through rapid diagnostic tests, to enhance response to the pandemic.”

The WHO reported that 31 out of 46 countries analyzed performed fewer than 10 tests per 10,000 people per week in April, well below the continent’s target testing rate.

Low testing rates may be attributed to limited access to health care facilities, especially in areas ravaged by violence. People displaced by war often seek refuge in neighboring countries, increasing the possibility of spreading the disease even if borders are officially closed.

COVID-19 disinformation campaigns in Africa also have led to virus skepticism, which persuades some people to avoid getting tested, receiving vaccines and practicing preventive measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing.

Even so, some areas in Africa are making progress in their testing efforts.

In Mozambique, where extremist violence has devastated certain coastal areas, the University of Saskatchewan in Canada helped establish the first COVID-19 testing laboratory in the Inhambane province in early May. Tests previously had to be sent to the capital, Maputo, for results, which often took two weeks to process. Results now are available in a day.

Statistics show relatively low COVID-19 infection rates in Mozambique, but that’s at least partly because of a lack of testing, Dr. Jessie Forsyth, a University of Saskatchewan researcher and leader of the testing project, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. (CBC). The new lab also can test for tuberculosis and other diseases and will stay open after the pandemic.

The new lab is “an important piece to be able to track what’s happening and to better plan,” Forsyth told the CBC.