Four variants circulating in Senegal while vaccination is slow
In Senegal, vaccination is not progressing as quickly as desired while the variants are actively circulating.
© AP / Leo Correa
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
In Senegal, the Institut Pasteur in Dakar notes a strong circulation of Covid-19 variants.
Four were identified on outgoing travelers in April and May.
The Alpha variant (known as “British”) had already been detected in the territory.
From now on, the Delta (known as “Indian”), Beta (known as “South African”) and Nigerian variants are also circulating.
The health authorities are calling for an acceleration of the vaccination campaign, which is progressing timidly.
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With our correspondent in Dakar,
Charlotte Idrac
Political and sporting gatherings, demonstrations, concerts for the music festival are often without masks or distancing.
The health authorities note a serious relaxation in the barrier gestures.
The appearance of three new variants is however worrying, according to the Pasteur Institute in Dakar.
In April and May, 275 samples tested positive were analyzed from travelers leaving the territory.
59% of variants in circulation
In nearly 59% of cases, they were variants, the vast majority Nigerian and British.
Two cases of the Delta variant, reputed to be particularly contagious, have also been identified.
So should we fear an increase in cases?
“
Currently, we have seen a decrease, but in recent days, we have seen that we have had a small rise,
describes
Doctor Ousmane Faye, head of the department of virology at the Institut Pasteur
.
Epidemiologists, through the variants that have circulated, have begun investigations to find out if there would indeed be more transmission.
In any case, it pushes to repeat this message: it is necessary to respect the measures and vaccination.
"
To date, only nearly 500,000 people have been vaccinated in Senegal.
With the recent reception of new doses, health authorities hope to breathe new life into the countryside.
And the country aims to embark on the production of anti-covid vaccines by the first quarter of 2022.
►Also listen: Report Africa - Covid-19 in Senegal: skepticism and mistrust of vaccines
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Senegal
Coronavirus
Health and medicine
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