A new and deadlier strain of the Coronavirus has hit Africa and it shows in the rising cases among a people once thought to possess some immunity against the virus. A new genetic mutation of the coronavirus was first reported in the U.K. earlier this month which is said to spread faster and has the capacity to kill almost immediately.

The same variant has since been found in cases linked to South Africa, thus fuelling anxiety that Africa may be in for a long rough ride with the pandemic.

Nigeria has also recorded a new strain which scientists in the country claim is not linked to the UK variant. However, the country has continued to experience a spike in number of infections. Nigeria is among 8 African countries said to have experience surge in infection. Mali, Uganda and Senegal are in this group.

The strain of virus of the second wave of coronavirus currently circulating in Senegal is reportedly “more virulent” than that of the first wave.

Senegalese Minister of Health and Social Action, Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, disclosed this on Saturday.

In an interview with a local newspaper, Le Quotidien, Sarr said that, in terms of the aggressiveness of this second wave, “the virus is considered to be more virulent’’.

“Clearly, from the point of view of the statistics that we have on the positivity rate by district, but also the attack rate and other parameters, we can confirm that the start of this wave has a steep upward curve,’’ Sarr explained.

According to him, health workers, despite the fatigue of nine months of fighting COVID-19, will continue with their efforts to slow the spread of the pandemic.

Regarding the vaccine, he said that Senegal is a member of the COVAX initiative.

The minister added that the country was looking forward to having the vaccine by the second quarter of 2021 at the latest after the WHO approves a vaccine candidate.

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