Correspondence

COVID-19 and tuberculosis in South Africa: A dangerous combination

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J Boffa, T Mhlaba, G Sulis, S Moyo, Z Sifumba, M Pai, A Daftary

Abstract


There has been much speculation during the past week about the catastrophe that awaits once coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) establishes itself in the poorest communities of South Africa (SA) and, importantly, in informal settlements. Evidence to date suggests that COVID-19 is efficiently passed from infected individuals via large droplets and hard-surface fomites.

Authors' affiliations

J Boffa, McGill International TB Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Centre for Rural Health, School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

T Mhlaba, Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

G Sulis, McGill International TB Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

S Moyo, Social Aspects of Public Health Research Programme, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Z Sifumba, St Andrews Hospital, Harding, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

M Pai, McGill International TB Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

A Daftary, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, Canada; Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa

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Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2020;110(5):341-342. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2020.v110i5.14747

Article History

Date submitted: 2020-03-27
Date published: 2020-03-27

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