Post COVID-19 and fungal pathogens coinfection in Africa – Current status and future direction

Abstract

COVID-19 is no longer a PHEIC, though this comes with a long-term plan to manage the disease through vaccination. COVID-19 almost left behind a new form of disease, the post-acute sequelae (long COVID) which is evolving to likely pose a healthcare challenge. Currently, Africa is yet to understand the prevalence and nature of long COVID, as well as best practices in the diagnosis, treatment and control and the impact on the prevalence and management of fungal infections. It is not clear to what extent it is affecting the lives of Africans., Therefore, more research is needed to understand the pathogenesis of long COVID and the burden of fungal coinfections to help establish efficient management approaches before this evolves into a serious healthcare concern.