Covid-19 spreading fast at household level—study
A recent study by the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Kuhes) has shown that Covid-19 transmission at household level is at 70 percent.
Presenting the findings to journalists in Blantyre on Monday, principal investigator, Professor Victor Mwapasa, said in every 10 households that have a Covid-19 patient, seven will have other members testing positive.
He said the study which was conducted in Blantyre from December 2020 to October 2021, further found that vaccination is key to preventing severe sickness from Covid-19.
Mwapasa said: “We need to have as many people as possible to get vaccinated because the study has shown that those that were vaccinated were well protected, as their antibodies increased in numbers to fight the infection and they didn’t get seriously ill.”
The study also highlighted the economic and psychological impacts of the pandemic at household level, calling on government and its partners to provide support to households that are caring for Covid-19 patients to alleviate their suffering.
The meeting brought together the media, traditional leaders, stakeholders in the health sector.
In his contribution, Senior Chief Kuntaja expressed worry that despite being the epicentre of the pandemic, few people have been vaccinated in Blantyre. The research which was titled Sars-Cov-2 infection, transmission dynamics and household impact in Malawi (Scathim) and was aimed at determining Covid-19 infection, transmission dynamics and the social-economic impact in households located in urban and rural settings in Blantyre.
