Zika virus endemic challenges during COVID-19 pandemic in Africa

Aborode, Abdullahi Tunde; Sukaina, Mahnoor; Kumar, Harendra; Farooqui, Tahreem; Faheem, Samar; Chahal, Priyanka; Alkazmi, Luay; Hetta, Helal F.; Batiha, Gaber El-Saber

Zika virus remains endemic and opportunistic of high transmission in the tropical region of Africa, and the repeated cases of the Zika virus in Africa made it public health emergency in 2016. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the catastrophic cases of unknown and unreported deaths overwhelming the region of Africa could not give health attention to respond to other endemic diseases. Here, we present the possible complication and challenges associated with the Zika virus in Africa and COVID-19 predominance, shifting the attention from the Zika virus surveillance. This paper determines to enlighten the reader about the situation, the efforts to curb the transmission of both the Zika virus and the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the report recommends sustainable solutions that can lessen the threat to public health.