Investment in SARS-CoV-2 sequencing in Africa over the past year has led to a major increase in the number of sequences generated, now exceeding 100,000 genomes, used to track the pandemic on the continent. Our results show an increase in the number of African countries able to sequence domestically, and highlight that local sequencing enables faster turnaround time and more regular routine surveillance. Despite limitations of low testing proportions, findings from this genomic surveillance study underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic and shed light on the distinct dispersal dynamics of Variants of Concern, particularly Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron, on the continent. Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve, while the continent faces many emerging and re-emerging infectious disease threats. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century.

This study investigates the optimal combination of clove, cinnamon, lavender, and myrtle essential oils (EOs) against Escherichia coli. After the GC/MS analyses, the antimicrobial activities of the four EOs were screened. Afterward, a statistical mixture design established the right EOs’ combination capable of protecting milk from E. coli. Results illustrated that the EOs were chemically different and efficient against 14 bacteria. Hence, the simplex‐centroid mixture design was used to build polynomial models describing the relationship between the anti‐E. coli effect and the proportion of each EO. Result depicted that the lowest bacterial survivability was equal to 1.5 × 106·CFU·ml−1 for the combination of cinnamon and lavender; and the combination of cinnamon, lavender, and clove at a concentration of 2 mg/ml. The application of the statistical design concluded that the optimal combination corresponds to 2.4% S. aromaticum, 38.2% L. stoechas, and 59.4% C. zeylanicum. The combination validation exhibited its efficiency as it restricted the E. coli viability to 1 × 106·CFU·ml−1. Practical applications EOs are the new eco‐friendly preservative for food. Their combination (using the right sources and proportions) allows better protection against germs. In this study, the obtained formula may be of interest in the milk and dairy industry as it contributes to protecting milk (and dairy products) against E. coli contamination.

Background The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to constitute an international public health concern. Few data are available on the duration and prognostic factors of the disease. We aimed to study the recovery time among a Tunisian cohort of COVID-19 confirmed patients and identify the prognostic factors. Methods A retrospective, nationwide study was conducted from March 2 to May 8, 2020, recruiting all patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19, by RT-PCR methods, in Tunisia. Data were collected via phone call interview. Kaplan-Meir Methods and Cox proportional hazards regression models were, respectively, used to study the recovery time and estimate its prognostic factors. Results One thousand and thirty patients with COVID-19 (aged 43.2 ± 18.2 years, 526 female (51.1%)) were enrolled. Among them 141 (14.8%) were healthcare professionals. Out of 173 patients (17.8%) admitted to the hospital, 47 were admitted in an intensive care unit. Among 827 patients who didn’t require specialized care, 55.5% were self-isolated at home, while the rest were in specialized centers. Six hundred and two patients were symptomatic. A total of 634 (61.6%) patients have recovered and 45 (4.4%) patients died. The median duration of illness was estimated to be 31 days (95% CI: [29–32]). Older age (HR = 0.66, CI:[0.46–0.96], P = 0.031) and symptoms (HR = 0.61, CI:[0.43–0.81], P = 0.021) were independently associated with a delay in recovery time. Being a healthcare professional (HR = 1.52, CI: [1.10–2.08], P = 0.011) and patients in home isolation compared to isolation centers (HR = 2.99, CI: [1.85–4.83], P < 10¯3) were independently associated with faster recovery time. Conclusion The duration of illness was estimated to be 1 month. However, this long estimated duration of illness may not equate to infectiousness. A particular attention must to be paid to elderly and symptomatic patients with closer monitoring.

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