Prominent medical doctor and president of the Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association, Johannes Marisa, has urged members of the public to remain vigilant, observe healthy standards and seek medical attention to deal with the current bug that has left many people with flu-like symptoms in recent weeks.
Speaking to ZiFM Stereo News, Marisa said the bug could be COVID-19 or something else, but urged people not to panic, saying the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is now endemic.
“So, what I want people to know is there’s no need to panic, of course, because it seems that COVID-19 is now endemic. When we say endemic, we mean it is among us,” he said.
“We are going to live with it, but people should not delay when they start to develop complications from this respiratory illness.”
“There’s a bug, of course, that is causing havoc today. A lot of people are sick, and a lot of people are in trouble with respiratory illness or infection. We are very worried because this bug may be anything.
“It may be COVID-19, it may not be COVID-19, it may be the seasonal flu caused by influenza type A, type B, or type C. It is not surprising if it is COVID-19.”
Marisa advised people to observe the same measures used during the COVID-19 era, such as washing hands with soap and using hand sanitisers, to contain the current bug.
“We are limited by testing at the moment. It’s not surprising because already in China, Singapore and Southeast Asia, we’ve witnessed some strain of COVID-19, the Nimbus NB1H1, which is actually spreading and which has been causing some headaches there, and America is also reporting the same,” said Marisa.
“So, with globalisation, you know what happens. A lot of people movement is involved, and COVID-19 can land anywhere in this world.
“So, people should know that this virus can be very stubborn. This virus can spread like the wind. Therefore, there is a need to observe proper hygiene.”
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