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Re-reading ACT, BCG, and Low COVID-19 in Africa

Jia Bainga Kangbai1,2,3, Lawrence Sao Babawo3,4, Daniel Kaitibi5

  • 1Center for International Health, University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany.

SN Comprehensive Clinical Medicine
|January 18, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Countries with low malaria and tuberculosis (TB) incidence show higher COVID-19 cases and deaths. Researchers suggest artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) and bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine may offer protection.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Global Health

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has shown a geographically disproportionate distribution of cases and deaths.
  • Countries with low burdens of malaria and tuberculosis (TB) appear to have higher COVID-19 incidence and mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between low malaria/TB prevalence and high COVID-19 outcomes.
  • To propose a potential therapeutic strategy for COVID-19 containment and management.

Main Methods:

  • Observational analysis of global COVID-19 data in relation to 2018 malaria and TB case numbers.
  • Speculative analysis based on the potential immunomodulatory effects of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) and bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine.

Main Results:

  • A significant association was observed between low malaria/TB endemicity and elevated COVID-19 cases and fatalities.
  • Hypothesized that prior exposure to malaria and subsequent use of ACT drugs, along with BCG vaccination for TB, might confer some protection against severe COVID-19.

Conclusions:

  • The study calls for a COVID-19 containment and clinical management protocol incorporating ACT drugs and BCG vaccine on a compassionate use basis.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the potential protective effects of these interventions against COVID-19.

Keywords:
ArtemisininCOVID-19CoronavirusIncidenceMalariaPandemicTuberculosis

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