What is already known about this topic?
As of March 2021, African countries have reported fewer COVID-19 cases than have countries in other regions. The extent to which this is due to surveillance limitations is unknown.
What is added by this report?
Policy, funding, and strategy changes in South Sudan influenced the number of SARS CoV-2 tests performed and the populations tested. Underreporting of testing rates and detected cases, including a February 2021 COVID-19 surge, might have occurred after policy changes led to an increase in travel screening of asymptomatic persons with no known contact with a positive case and a decrease in testing of suspected cases
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Not fewer than seven persons including a 2-year-old have been confirmed killed following the outbreak of Cholera in Gombe State. Six others are still receiving treatment in some health facilities in Gombe.
The disclosure was made to newsmen on Thursday by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, who added that 32 other persons who were affected have been treated and discharged to continue management at home under close monitoring by health officials.
The commissioner explained that on May 21, 2021, the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre of the State Ministry of Health received a surveillance report of suspected cases of Cholera and the death of a two-year-old child in Kalajanga village in Akko Local Government Area of the state.
Department of Health
The Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, has today declared the Greater Melbourne a COVID-19 hotspot for the purposes of Commonwealth support, for an initial period of 7 days from 27 May 2021.
Victoria have announced the occurrence of 26 cases in the Greater Melbourne in the past four days.
Whole genome sequencing has confirmed cases to have been infected with the B.1.617.1 variant of concern. The sequence is closely related to that of the Wollert case detected in Victoria on the 10 May 2021, and investigation is underway to determine whether there are any missing epidemiological links.
B.1.617.1 is believed to have a higher rate of transmission, resulting in the need for more stringent public health measures to control a community outbreak if it becomes established.