Video caption: A Covid-19 survivor wants to thank the nurses who helped him while he was in hospital.A Covid-19 survivor wants to thank the nurses who helped him while he was in hospital.
India Covid variant spreads to more African nations
Akwasi Sarpong
BBC News
AFPCopyright: AFP
The WHO has classified the coronavirus variant first found in India last year as a "variant of global concern"Image caption: The WHO has classified the coronavirus variant first found in India last year as a "variant of global concern"
Three more African countries - Algeria, the Democratic
Republic of Congo and Nigeria - have now detected the Indian variant of coronavirus, Dr Ngoy Nsenga, from the World Health Organization (WHO),
has told the BBC.
The confirmation brings to seven the number of African nations that
have confirmed the B.1.617 mutation, which initial studies show spreads more easily than other variants
Dr Nsenga, who co-ordinates the WHO's Covid-19 response in
Africa, said he had no further details on the number of cases or travel
history of the people who tested positive in Algeria, Dr Congo and Nigeria, .
Four African countries have already confirmed the presence of the
B.1.617 variant all linked with recent travel to India. They are:
It is being studied to establish whether it is responsible for a deadly surge in India, which is currently overwhelming hospitals and crematoriums.
Mozambique seeks approvals for Covid vaccine trials
Jose Tembe
BBC News, Maputo
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
The trial involves pregnant women from nine countriesImage caption: The trial involves pregnant women from nine countries
Mozambique is in the process of obtaining approvals to take part in an international research for a Covid-19 vaccine for pregnant women.
The Manhiça Health Research Centre Director Francisco Saúde said an investigation protocol was being developed then it will be approved by various health committees, the pharmaceutical department, and the health ministry.
Mozambique is among nine other countries taking part in the study by American pharmaceutical company Pfizer and German partner BioNTech.
South Africa is also part of the research that includes the UK, US, Canada, Spain, Argentina, Brazil and Chile.
During the study, tests will be done to determine the safety of the vaccines and whether unborn babies receive anti-bodies from their mothers.
In February, Pfizer and BioNTech said that the first volunteers received
vaccines in the study, which enrolled about 4,000 healthy pregnant women aged
18 and above.
Live Reporting
BBC Scotland News
All times stated are UK
Video caption: Gemma Arterton: Screen and stage star excited at theatres reopeningGemma Arterton: Screen and stage star excited at theatres reopening 
Video caption: A Covid-19 survivor wants to thank the nurses who helped him while he was in hospital.A Covid-19 survivor wants to thank the nurses who helped him while he was in hospital. 
AFPCopyright: AFP The WHO has classified the coronavirus variant first found in India last year as a "variant of global concern"Image caption: The WHO has classified the coronavirus variant first found in India last year as a "variant of global concern" -
Kenya: five cases
-
Morocco: two cases
-
South African: four cases
-
Uganda: one case.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images The trial involves pregnant women from nine countriesImage caption: The trial involves pregnant women from nine countries 
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India Covid variant spreads to more African nations
Akwasi Sarpong
BBC News
Three more African countries - Algeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria - have now detected the Indian variant of coronavirus, Dr Ngoy Nsenga, from the World Health Organization (WHO), has told the BBC.
The confirmation brings to seven the number of African nations that have confirmed the B.1.617 mutation, which initial studies show spreads more easily than other variants
Dr Nsenga, who co-ordinates the WHO's Covid-19 response in Africa, said he had no further details on the number of cases or travel history of the people who tested positive in Algeria, Dr Congo and Nigeria, .
Four African countries have already confirmed the presence of the B.1.617 variant all linked with recent travel to India. They are:
The WHO has recently classified the Indian mutation, which was detected in October 2020, as a "variant of global concern".
It is being studied to establish whether it is responsible for a deadly surge in India, which is currently overwhelming hospitals and crematoriums.
Mozambique seeks approvals for Covid vaccine trials
Jose Tembe
BBC News, Maputo
Mozambique is in the process of obtaining approvals to take part in an international research for a Covid-19 vaccine for pregnant women.
The Manhiça Health Research Centre Director Francisco Saúde said an investigation protocol was being developed then it will be approved by various health committees, the pharmaceutical department, and the health ministry.
Mozambique is among nine other countries taking part in the study by American pharmaceutical company Pfizer and German partner BioNTech.
South Africa is also part of the research that includes the UK, US, Canada, Spain, Argentina, Brazil and Chile.
During the study, tests will be done to determine the safety of the vaccines and whether unborn babies receive anti-bodies from their mothers.
In February, Pfizer and BioNTech said that the first volunteers received vaccines in the study, which enrolled about 4,000 healthy pregnant women aged 18 and above.
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