A new strain of viruses that cause respiratory diseases has been identified in the world since 9th January 2020 as announced by the World Health Organization (WHO) to have started in China. As of 20tth January 2020, other Countries including the Republic of South Korea have also reported cases (WHO).
Between 2002 and 2003, 776 people died from infections with Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) out of the over 8000 infections that were recorded worldwide. I remember very well what warranted the introduction of H1N1:2009 influenza vaccine even when it had not gone through all the clinical trials and approval stages because of fear of death.
The Minister of Health, Ghana has issued an alert statement on what the WHO issued to all member states. Beyond the alert, what next is my concern? What kind of capacity are we building for the health sector to be able to handle this budding infectious disease? This morning as at the time this piece was written, it was in the news that the United States of America has recorded her first case of the infection.
Beyond alert, I wish Ghana will utilize the existing structures that may facilitate the screening and diagnosis of cases to be able to limit the spread of the infection should there be any detected case. The laboratory testing guidelines by WHO suggest that the most ideal sample for testing is from the lower respiratory tract. Sputum falls squarely in that description. Since there are Gene Xpert equipment all over Ghana in some district and regional hospitals for the diagnosis of TB, is it possible to look for a platform/module that could facilitate the use of the Gene Xpert to screen for coronaviruses in all sputum samples? There is evidence that suggests that the said equipment could be used for RT-PCR for pancoronaviruses.
I wish we plan and prepare in order not to be taken by surprise on the day of reckoning with the latest sibling of SARS.