Viewpoint of COVID-19 in Africa and Latin America

Abstract

The spread of COVID-19 across the African continent and Latin American region is of great concern due to several influencing factors. Large and densely populated areas and townships with widespread poverty and high migration are the most vulnerable populations for a pandemic of this magnitude. The latter could be complicated since known communicable diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, cardiovascular disorder, hypertension and lack of basic healthcare delivery systems are known risks that may enhance the degree of mortality, via the pandemic in affected regions. The aim of this review is to focus on the clinical signs, transmission, case fatalities and influencing factors that might exacerbate the pandemic in these regions.