There are indications that children and people from Africa may have special protection against coronavirus. While a recent study has backed up claims that the virus was less severe in children and less likely to kill them compared to adults, there was yet any scientific evidence supporting the latter notion.
The debate was fuelled by the fact that the first Nigerian patient was cured of the virus in less than five days compared to the Italian index case still battling with the disease 17 days after.
It would be recalled that the index case in Nigeria, a 44-year-old Italian that tested positive to the virus on February 27, 2020, was yet to be cured, while the second confirmed case, a 40-year-old Nigeria tested positive on March 8, 2020, but was discharged on March 13.
The Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said, “The index case is clinically stable at the designated treatment facility for COVID-19, the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) Yaba, Lagos. An additional sample has been collected for retesting.
“The second confirmed case, who was in contact with the index case, has tested negative twice, has cleared the virus and was discharged on March 13, 2020.
“All other contacts of the index case completed their follow up period on Friday 13th of March 2020 and have been allowed to re-integrate into the society and resume their normal lives.”
He, however, insisted that there is no scientific evidence that black people have any advantage, adding, “For now we cannot explain what happened. It does not mean that Africans or blacks have special protection against the virus, because that can’t be determined with one case.
“We need more cases and evidence to determine that, but what is available shows that the virus has affected both whites and blacks globally.”
