I do believe that in spite of the increase in infections in many countres in sub-saharan Africa, the spread is still lower than what one would expect. And whereas many have claimed it is the weather or the race, i think there is something else that may explain: the BCG vaccine.
Researchers are now looking into the BCG vaccine to see if they can use it to vaccinate health staff since a few people with the BCG vaccine have shown to have a 70-80% less chance of having a respiratory infection from COVID-19.
Many people in Europe and America don’t have the vaccine since they are not in danger of contracting TB. In Kenya and many African countries, TB is alive ad well and a number of countries take it very seriously. In Kenya, it is mandatory. Could this be a lifeline to us in Kenya?
That would be splendid!!
Ironically some western countries require Africans to get chest X-ray to check whether you have TB before going to their country despite having received BCG vaccine and showing no signs of TB!!
They should keep some of this findings on the low low…you all saw when malaria drug was rumored, it went out of stock. Now if the BCG is announced… I think all scientists should also keep all their findings on shutdown. Once they are sure and proper stocks are ramped up, then the public gets in the know.
I think the issue is testing. Most european and asian countries focus on testing as many people as possible. That’s the best way to identify and quarantine infected people. For most european countries their high income per capita may have contributed to the spread because of leisure travels as tourists.
Sounds like a great idea, anything to help as long as the potential benefits outweigh potential risks. Let’s do it!
Now, with this virus the old or immunocompromised have a hard time mounting an immune response so the disease overwhelms their lungs. However, in young people with a robust immune system, sometimes they mount a response that is too strong and that cytokine storm becomes a bad thing, causes excessive inflammation in the lungs and has the same deadly outcome. When you hear a young, otherwise healthy person has succumbed to influenza usually it’s because their immune system over-reacted.
A BCG vaccine would be perfect in priming the immune system for a measured response to a future illness because it’s a “live attenuated” vaccine. A live attenuated vaccine contains live bacteria that have been weakened so it can stimulate the immune system without causing disease in healthy people.
“A cytokine storm occurs when the body’s immune system over-reacts to an intruder, such as a virus, by producing high levels of cytokines, which are signaling chemicals that help mobilize immune cells capable of removing infectious agents from the body. When too many cytokines are produced, they can stimulate an inflammatory response in which the accumulation of immune cells and fluid at the site of infection may prevent affected tissues and organs such as the lungs from functioning properly and may even cause death.”
I think most kenyans get vaccinated in childhood, when you get the most benefit against TB. It lasts about 20 years but re-vaccination in adults hasn’t been studied quite rigorously.