The virus that has spread through much of China has yet to be confirmed in Africa, but global health authorities are increasingly worried about the threat to the continent.
An estimated 1 million Chinese now live there, there are no strict controls at airports and some health workers on the ground warn they are not ready to handle an outbreak.
At a Chinese-run hospital in Zambia, some employees watched as people who recently returned from China showed up with coughs but were not placed in isolation.
A doctor tending to those patients has stopped coming to work, and health workers have been ordered not to speak publicly about the new virus that has killed hundreds around the world.
Countries are racing to take precautions as hundreds of travelers arrive from China every day. Safeguards include stronger surveillance at ports of entry and improved quarantine and testing measures across Africa, home to 1.2 billion people and some of the world’s weakest systems for detecting and treating disease.
But the effort has been complicated by a critical shortage of testing kits and numerous illnesses that display symptoms similar to the flu-like virus.
“The problem is, even if it’s mild, it can paralyze the whole community,” said Dr. Michel Yao, emergency operations manager in Africa for the World Health Organization.
Hundreds of workers traveled between Zambia and China in recent weeks from Chinese Company based in Wuhan
Those growing worried include employees at the Sino-Zambia Friendship Hospital in the mining city of Kitwe in northern Zambia, near the Congo border.
Chinese companies operate mines on the outskirts of the city of more than half a million people. One company is headquartered in Wuhan, the city at the center of the virus outbreak. Hundreds of workers traveled between Zambia and China in recent weeks.
“We’re definitely not prepared. If we had a couple of cases, it would spread very quickly,” physiotherapist Fundi Sinkala said. “We’re doing the best we can with what resources we have.”
Chinese Hospital Doesn’t Respect Quarantine
The Sino-Zambia Friendship Hospital, or Sinozam, a low-slung facility near the city’s train station, has taken some precautions, including checking patient temperatures with infrared thermometers and establishing isolation areas. Employees wear masks. Gloves, disinfectant and oxygen inhalers have been stockpiled. Sinozam treats many Chinese in Kitwe and its precautions go further than other hospitals in the area.
But the employees and others familiar with the matter, some of whom spoke anonymously under the new rules, say some Chinese patients checked in with coughs and fevers but did not get placed in isolation.
Visiting Zambian health officials concluded the patients did not merit special treatment and did not take samples to test for the virus. After the people recovered, they were sent home with antibiotics, employees said.
On Wednesday, the hospital set up a new fever clinic, to which people arriving with a high temperature are now ushered to right away. It’s “unfortunate” the ward wasn’t set up earlier, Sinkala said.
Doctor falls ill and has not come back to hospital
Two people familiar with the matter say a doctor tending to the sick has fallen ill. Dr. Yu Jianlan has not come to work in the past week and hospital administrators have not explained her absence, Sinkala said. The other person spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution.
Hospital administrator Li Zhibing said there were no patients with a fever and said Yu had a urinary tract infection, not a fever.
Suspect Notice and unspecified number of suspected cases
No case of fever? A notice posted by the Zambia-China Cooperation Zone, which manages the hospital, quoted an employee as saying on Jan. 27 that the facility “probably sees 120 fever patients a day, and at least 70 of them are carrying germs” of various diseases. It all looks like a cover up to me!
Adding to concerns at Sinozam, three employees say Zambian health officials visited on Tuesday and have been testing the bodies of two Chinese patients that have been in the morgue for days
Earlier this week, a Zambian official acknowledged for the first time that his country was following up on an unspecified number of suspected cases. Zambia is one of 13 African countries identified by WHO as a high priority because of busy travel links with China.
When any case is confirmed, you will be informed
Crucially, no one in Zambia has been able to test for the virus so far. Like most African countries, it has been waiting for a substance known as a reagent, which labs require to confirm whether a patient is infected. Labs in just six of Africa’s 54 countries were equipped as of mid-week. That means a wait of two or more days to know whether a sample shipped to South Africa or even outside the continent tests positive.
Without testing, officials are “just relying on the symptoms” and whether they persist. “But from what we are learning right now, some people show hardly any symptoms at all,” Sinkala said, calling that the hospital’s biggest worry.
Africa nations not prepared
As of Friday, WHO emergencies chief Dr. Mike Ryan said 28 labs across Africa could diagnose the new virus.
Several African nations such as Ghana, South Africa and Ethiopia have announced their precautions, including updates on negative test results for suspected cases and demonstrations of surveillance and quarantine capabilities.
Ethiopian Airlines, however, faces questions by some in Africa about why it continues to operate more than 30 China flights a week while other African airlines have suspended theirs.
Adding to the difficulties in diagnosing the new virus are numerous diseases in Africa with symptoms that include fever or coughing or both.
It’s impossible to diagnose the new virus by symptoms alone, Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman said, adding that there is a “significant likelihood” that the virus will be confirmed in Africa. And there is a risk that “panic overtakes good public health and good science.”
Everyone is scared
Concerns are high among some in Kitwe. A local pharmacy manager, Edward Goma, estimated that his business had sold more than 800 face masks in the past few days.
“So far everyone is scared,” he said. And yet he has not noticed the stricter surveillance measures seen in other countries, beyond temperature checks at the international airport an hour’s drive away.
The 15th Metallurgical Construction Group, based in Wuhan, said on its website that its overseas operations in Zambia and Congo must purchase masks, disinfect living quarters and workspaces daily and check workers’ temperatures three times a day.
Chinese employees are temporarily barred from returning to Africa, while those in Zambia are not allowed to go to China, said Li, the hospital administrator.
Chinese embassies in Zambia and elsewhere in Africa have been unusually outspoken, giving news conferences and elevision interviews to discuss their response to the outbreak.
Embassies require arriving Chinese citizens to declare where they have been in China. They also urge citizens to voluntarily isolate themselves for 14 days.
“We are now practicing hygiene, even in the mines,” said the Kitwe-based president of the Mine Workers Union of Zambia, Joseph Chewe. “Any report of a person with coronavirus here will be very disastrous.” Yes, and the health disaster has already begun. More epidemic news on Strange Sounds or Steve Quayle. [StatNews, BBC]
Pentagon opens 11 new coronavirus quarantine facilities as hospitals already at capacity with flu patients brace for a shortage of beds if the virus spreads in the US
The Department of Defense has designated 11 air bases as quarantines
So far, more than 800 Americans returning from the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan are quarantined on three bases
No additional evacuation flights are scheduled but officials expect a trickle of travelers who have been to Wuhan in the past two weeks to continue
With a relatively severe flu season in full-swing, US hospitals are already running out of beds
Coronavirus is not spreading in the US yet, but hospital staff area already bracing with ‘surge capacity’ plans and efforts ton conserve face masks
Preparation for full medical martial law with tanks in street of North America and Canada?
More service man was injured on Iran bombing Al-Assad base in Iraq totaling 100 plus has now TBI injury. According Donald Trump they had headaches ? You be the judge of story and why not Iran is being attacked what is it they scare from Iran. Iran 4th times of satellite was again not be able reach its destinations. Iran has 10 atom bombs and now after we told it 5 years ago and recently now they say Iran will go fully nuclear with in a year? This terrorist government of Iran must be nuked to stone ages that is only way no other way. In Canada and North America they already put FEMA extensions of beds in the hospitals outside the hospitals under medical martial law? Something is fishy is going on? Our doctor in China still treating North American VIP and citizens in Beijing hospitals. He will be coming soon but he will be under 21 days of medical martial law.
US builds up Mid-East strength against rising tension over “Deal of the Century and Iran . The USS Bataan strike group and the 2,400-strong 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit are being deployed to the Mid-East ready for unexpected trouble arising from spiraling tension with Iran and potential reactions to the release of Donald Trump’s “Deal of the Century” – a plan for an Israel-Palestinian peace – early next week.
On Friday, Jan. 24, the USS Bataan amphibious assault ship, escorted by two other battleships, had reached the Red Sea opposite the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. They had taken part in a naval exercise with Morocco, which was interrupted for their new mission.
US intelligence watchers believe that Iran is getting ready to expand its assaults on US and allied targets, including Israel and Saudi Arabia, in escalating payback for the US assassination of Al Qods chief Gen. Qassem Soleimani on Jan. 3.
On Friday, the Pentagon revealed that 34 US servicemen had suffered “traumatic brain injury” from Iran’s missile strikes on the US Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq on Jan. 8. Earlier, only 11 were reported injured, while President Trump had stated initially that no US troops had been hurt in the attack.
US senators ask Twitter to shut down Khamenei’s account.
Team of Canadian lawyers bring lawsuit against Ali Khamenei 1,1 Billion Dollars . 70 Iranian in China landed in Tehran Airport and now world and Israel are in fear that terrorist government of Iran will use them as bio weapon against great Satan and Little Satan. Israel will be closing the doors to all by sea, land and air in coming week? Also is advised to all democratic runners and republic runners do not shake hands with your supporters, due to Corona Virus? Please upgrade your security arrangements.
What is so Dark about the continent of Africa?
We warned you last week we should be already stopped flights and preparation for Medical Martial Law which is full Martial Law any way just name is different. President Trump told President Xi Jinping that he is doing wonderful jobs. Chinese troops pull people from their own house and take them outside shot them? This virus it seems effects more Asians than any one. Phase 2 of this virus will be greater than 1st phase and final phase is 3 and 90 percent of world population will die. We know this is Bio weapon for final Armageddon. UN role is to say FEMA trains are ready in North America and UN take over of world is started. There is no end or beginning. Why Darunavir or DRV (Prezista) works on the Corona Virus so is made of multiple components? This virus is man made prelude to world war 3? Global banking crisis and shortages of cash gas and food for world wide. We told you now we will going toward closing all borderlines of world. No one will come in or get out?
The Chinese have a plan to Export 400 Million Chinese to Africa because they Really Need the Resources & Can’t Feed their people so this is Very Magically Coincidental & Convenient & as one commenter pointed out the Chicoms Hate Blacks & Everybody who isn’t a Yellow Skinned Slant Eyed Demon Moneygrubber.
This was a no brainer as is the conclusion that the virus is already there. What is to be seen is the spread rate and mortality in Africa vis a vis China. That will really be the relevant point. Is there or isn’t there any race specificity to the virus? So far it looks universal but the data are sketchy on that point.
if you believe any of this you are of low information! do you trust officials of the world anything? the virus is deliberately being spread intentionally to infect the blacks of Africa so china can move in when the black race is all dead! wake up Satan is on the march!
you say you do not believe in satan? he has a warm place for you!
repent Jesus is your only hope!
I think it will unfortunately get most of the Chinese first including the implosion of the Chinese financial system. There won’t be much for China to do as the world will cut them off. They are already in jeopardy due to this very limited slow down. If they have to to quarantine the entire country, then the Chinese miracle is OVER for good.
Then if this virus gets cut loose in Africa, then it will go up to Egypt and Morocco and then down in RSA. Then it gets ugly. The looting, pillaging and destruction would be at a scale not seen in the history of the world.
Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ is our ONE and only hope. I would love to lose gravity right about now and be stepping onto a street made of pure gold.
I was thinking exactly the same thing China wants to take over Africa all the population will suffer horribly. China would take over the whole world if we let them.
And when the worst happens and Trump has to stop flights in and out of Africa he’ll be accused of racism.
The Chinese in African countries are living in WALLED, GATED communities, because even they don’t want to mix with the domestic population, but they’re not racist because only white people can be racist.
Hopefully, that won’t save the African continent.