Cases of coronavirus in the African continent have been rising every day. As of today, the total cases on the record are 129452 with 3792 fatalities and 53400 recoveries. However, African states are rolling out restrictive measures to curb the spread of coronavirus. The world at large is trying to invent a vaccine to prevent the virus. In Madagascar, a research team at the Malasy Institute of Applied Research developed a COVID-Organic. It is in the form of a curative and preventive type. The COVID-Organics are made from Tambavy CVO.
However, the World Health Organization is not in support of the project. Madagascar’s government decided to distribute the potion in schools and public facilities. Tanzania, Congo, Chad, and DRC are some of the African countries that have requested the country for the potion. Madagascar has over 600 cases and only 2 fatalities. However. according to a recent study from Senegal, medical reports say that anti-malarial drugs may mitigate the effects of the coronavirus. The 2 types of anti-malarial drugs are chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine.
Chloroquine And Hydroxychloroquine
Doctors use chloroquine to prevent and treat malaria. Furthermore, Medical professionals also use the anti-malarial drug for amebiasis that happens on the outside of intestines. The method of administration is through the mouth. Despite the drug preventing malaria, it has many side effects. These are muscle pains, appetite loss, rashes on the skin, and diarrhea. Other side effects are vision problems, seizures, and damage to the body muscles. The drug is on the WHO List of Essential Medicines.
Hydroxychloroquine is a derivative antimalarial drug for chloroquine sold under Plaquenil. Just like chloroquine, doctors use it to treat and prevent malaria. Moreover, medical practitioners use it in treating arthritis and lupus. Its method of administration is the same as the one for chloroquine. The side effects are vomiting, headaches, vision problems, and heart conditions.
Will Antimalarial Drugs be used on COVID-19 Patients?
When the coronavirus outbreak reached the West African region, authorities in that region provided the drugs to patients. They told the media that antimalarial drugs will have positive results. President Donald Trump supported the use of the drug and confessed that he uses it to prevent himself from the coronavirus. However, medical experts warned against using the anti-malarial tablets since they may be harmful.
A research team conducted a study and confirmed that the drugs might be ineffective to some extent. Furthermore, the drugs might be an additional risk towards early deaths and serious heart problems. In addition, Abdoulaye Bousso from Senegal says that they will continue using the hydroxychloroquine anti-malarial drug. However, the World Health Organization postponed trials of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for the virus.
Opinions Of Scientists On Antimalarial Drug Treatment.
At such a time, scientists need to come together to develop a vaccine for coronavirus disease. However, this is not the case. Different scientists have different views concerning the use of hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment. In addition, some scientists say that the drug might be harmful to humans whereas others support it. Authorities in France prohibited the drug as a treatment while Brazil still uses it.
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