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CORONAVIRUS NOT THE DEADLIEST ILLNESS

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MBABANE – The much feared coronavirus has recorded the lowest death rate in the last three months compared to other illness.


In the last three months, the global death toll from coronavirus accounted for over 300 000 people, while cancer killed over 1.1 million in the same period. Alcohol, on the other hand, accounted for 558 000 deaths and common cold claimed about 369 000 lives.


According to health experts engaged by this publication, despite coronavirus having a low death rate, it killed more people with underlying conditions, including the elderly, diabetic, malnourished individuals and others.


Infectious


The experts said the challenge with coronavirus was that it was highly infectious, but could be prevented through developing ‘regular hygiene habits’ as the world was now in search of a vaccine. They suggested that people should remain aware about personal protection through good practices and family-based health care.


Health Promotion Officer at World Health Organisation, Dr Kevin Makadzange, mentioned that in terms of the spread, COVID-19 was highly transmittable and could affect a large number of people. Dr Makadzange said a majority of the people affected by the virus could be asymptomatic or have mild symptoms and recover. He said this showed with the recovery rates witnessed in the country and other countries in the African region. According to Dr Makadzange, population dynamics was a challenge in Europe and Brazil, where the elderly population was higher compared to the youth.


 “Populations in Africa are young, which could be the reason of experiencing lower number of deaths and high recoveries compared to the European countries.”
He noted though that coronavirus was deadly, but not as the other conditions including cancer, road accidents, suicide and malaria, among others. The health promotional officer said it was therefore wise for people to take precautions and adhere to them.
 “You might never know that you could be the person to contract the virus and die. It is better not to contract it at all,” said Makadzange.


Deadlier


Director of Health Services in the Ministry of Health, Dr Vusi Magagula, reiterated Dr Makadzange’s statement, adding that coronavirus was deadly, but not deadlier than the other health issues. Magagula said it was wise though for members of the public to follow the laid down precautions.
COVID-19, first reported in China’s Wuhan, has spread to over 200 countries across the globe.


Eswatini has so far reported two deaths, while the total number of COVID-19 confirmed cases to date are at 285 and 189 recovered patients as of yesterday.
Some 5.81 million people have been infected across the globe with the novel coronavirus and 364 994 have died, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University on Saturday. World scenario of death suggested that mortality from the newly emerged virus was lower than other diseases and unexpected accidents in the last three months of the year.


Reports suggested that there were 1.16 million people who died from cancer, 369 000 from common cold syndromes, 340 500 from Malaria, 240 900 from HIV, 558 400 from alcohol-related infection while 816 400 people died from impact of smoking in the last three months of the year.
Suicide and road accidents claimed 353 600 and 393 400 fatalities during this period respectively.
WHO estimates that vector-borne diseases (spread by animals) account for 700 000 per year, of which at least 440 000 by mosquitoes through transmitting malaria and dengue fever (around 1 205 per day).


Though the coronavirus has been described as the ‘worst public health crisis for a generation’, the global health experts recommended improving mental health rather than fear about the pandemic.

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