UPDATE 2-Pandemic accelerating in Africa, test kits needed, WHO says

(Updates with details on why disease may spread slower)
By Stephanie Nebehay
GENEVA, June 11 (Reuters) - The coronavirus pandemic is
accelerating in Africa, spreading to rural areas after
international travellers brought it to capital cities, the World
Health Organization said on Thursday.
But the WHO said there was no indication that large numbers
of severe cases and deaths were being missed, nor has the virus
caused significant infections in refugee camps across the
continent.
Ten countries are driving Africa's epidemic, accounting for
75% of the some 207,600 cases on the continent, said Matshidiso
Moeti, WHO's Africa regional director. About 5,000 deaths have
been reported.
South Africa, which last month began a phased easing of the
lockdown, is the hardest-hit, accounting for a quarter of all
cases, she said.
"Even though these cases in Africa account for less than 3
percent of the global total, it's clear that the pandemic is
accelerating," Moeti told a news briefing for Geneva-based U.N.
correspondents.
"We believe that large numbers of severe cases and deaths
are not being missed in Africa."
Africa's population is relatively young and many countries
had already established "point of entry" screening measures
against Ebola fever - two factors which may have so far limited
the impact of COVID-19, she said.
But lockdowns and market closures to contain coronavirus
contagion have hit poor families hard, Moeti said.
In South Africa, high numbers of daily cases and deaths are
being reported in two provinces, the Western Cape and Eastern
Cape, she said, adding: "Specifically in the Western Cape where
we are seeing a majority of cases and deaths, the trend seem to
be similar to what was happening in Europe and in the U.S."
Shortages of test kits remain a challenge on the continent,
Moeti said, and until there is an effective vaccine, Africa is
likely to see a steady increase with hotspots requiring strong
public health and social distancing measures.
It is unclear why the disease spread more slowly in Africa
at first, she said, but several factors could be at play - lower
numbers of international travellers arriving to spread the
virus, quick reactions by African leaders, demographics and the
weather.