Mozambique: Epidemiological survey launched in Quelimane

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Mozambique: Epidemiological survey launched in Quelimane

6:20 CAT | 13 Aug 2020

An epidemiological survey began on Tuesday in Quelimane, capital of the central Mozambican province of Zambezia, to identify foci of the coronavirus that causes the Covid-19 respiratory disease, and how far it has spread in the city.

This is the fourth survey of its kind. Two surveys have been completed, in the northern cities of Nampula and Pemba, and the third is still under way, in Maputo.

The survey depends on a rapid blood test which does not detect the coronavirus directly, but detects antibodies showing that the person in question has been in contact with the virus. Such a test does not show whether someone is currently infected, but reveals how far the virus has spread over time.

The purpose of the survey is to show which parts of the city have the highest concentration of the virus, and which professional groups are most exposed.

According to a report in Wednesday’s issue of the Maputo daily “Noticias”, the Secretary of State for Zambezia, Judite Mussacula, told the launch ceremony that 6,000 residents of Quelimane are expected to take part in the ceremony.

The professional groups the survey will focus on include market sellers and taxi drivers. In Quelimane, the term taxi covers bicycle and motorcycle-taxis, as well as the conventional four wheel type. These groups are considered to be at particular risk of Covid-19 because they are regularly in contact with many people from all over the city and from other parts of the province.

Mussacula urged the inhabitants of the 53 neighbourhoods of Quelimane to facilitate the work of the health professionals running the survey, which will help guide efforts to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

She added that, regardless of the results, people tested who prove to be carrying the coronavirus must not be discriminated against. On the contrary, they need support for their recovery.

Unlike the previous surveys, in this case action is being taken well before there is any evident danger of a major upsurge in coronavirus infections. The Health Ministry has declared that in Nampula, Pemba and Maputo, Covid-19 made the transmission from an epidemic with foci of transmission to an epidemic with community transmission.

So far there are few confirmed cases of the virus in Quelimane. Indeed, in all of Zambezia province, only 48 cases have been diagnosed to date.

(AIM)