Investment in SARS-CoV-2 sequencing in Africa over the past year has led to a major increase in the number of sequences generated, now exceeding 100,000 genomes, used to track the pandemic on the continent. Our results show an increase in the number of African countries able to sequence domestically, and highlight that local sequencing enables faster turnaround time and more regular routine surveillance. Despite limitations of low testing proportions, findings from this genomic surveillance study underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic and shed light on the distinct dispersal dynamics of Variants of Concern, particularly Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron, on the continent. Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve, while the continent faces many emerging and re-emerging infectious disease threats. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century.

The COVID-19 global pandemic is being driven by evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants with consequential implications on virus transmissibility, host immunity, and disease severity. Continuous molecular and genomic surveillance of the SARS-CoV-2 variants is therefore necessary for public health interventions toward the management of the pandemic. This study is a retrospective analysis of COVID-19 cases reported in a Nigerian tertiary institution from July to December 2021. In total, 705 suspected COVID-19 cases that comprised 547 students and 158 non-students were investigated by real time PCR (RT-PCR); of which 372 (~52.8%) tested positive for COVID-19. Using a set of selection criteria, 74 (~19.9%) COVID-19 positive samples were selected for next generation sequencing. Data showed that there were two outbreaks of COVID-19 within the university community over the study period, during which more females (56.8%) tested positive than males (47.8%) (p<0.05). Clinical data together with phylogenetic analysis suggested community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through mostly asymptomatic and/or pre-symptomatic individuals. Confirmed COVID-19 cases were mostly mild, however, SARS-CoV-2 delta (77%) and omicron (4.1%) variants were implicated as major drivers of respective waves of infections during the study period. This study highlights the importance of integrated surveillance of communicable disease during outbreaks.

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In Africa and Asia, methods for processing grains and vegetables to powder and paste is still dominated by motorized grinding machine, which operates on energized rubbing of two grooved cast-iron discs. This method inadvertently results in tribological degradation of discs into ground foods. And implicitly, metal particles are consumed in ground foods with no detailed understanding of its chemical interaction with human body system and health implications. The aim of this study was to assess corrosion susceptibility of metallic contaminants in ground food and gastro-intestinal environments. Six grinding discs were selected for the study, based on manufacturing methods namely: rotary, cupola and pit furnaces. The discs chemical and phase compositions were determined using x-ray fluorescence spectroscope and x-ray diffractometer respectively. Corrosion susceptibility of metallic contaminants, in deionised water, ground maize water solution and simulated gastro-intestinal solution, were studied using electrochemical potentiodynamic polarisation scan and gasometric methods. Results showed that metallic contaminants corroded steadily in ground maize water but exponentially in simulated gastric solution, therefore suggesting metabolic placation of insinuated health concerns. This study is relevant to food industries where cognitive measures may have to be taken on materials selection to minimise tribological and corrosion degradations of metallic materials into foods.