21 research outputs found
Message from Editorial Team
Get PDFAs we watch Covid-19 wreak havoc across the world, readers may be interestedto know that the then Gold Coast (modern Ghana) was severely attacked by theinfluenza pandemic of 1918–19 (Patterson, 1983). Patterson notes that the diseasewas introduced by shipping along the southern coast and also overland across thenorthern frontier. As was the case across the continent, the influenza’s spreadwas greatly facilitated by the new colonial transportation network. Quarantinesand other preventive measures were futile and therapy, African or European, coulddo no more than alleviate symptoms. Although the disease struck the majority ofthe population, mortality rates varied across the country, with deaths especiallynumerous in the far north. This is not surprising if we consider that the diseasedeath rate is positively correlated with poverty, and northern parts of the countrywere the poorest. The influenza epidemic killed 100,000 or more people in less thansix months during 1918-19, and, Patterson argues, was almost certainly the worstshort-term demographic disaster in the history of the Gold Coast and Ghana.Today we have better health facilities, better and faster information flow, but alsomore fake news and greater inequality and ethical issues to consider about whosurvives and who does not in times of crisis. In the early days of the pandemic,just before Ghana closed its borders, a group of Italians boarded a flight to Accra,Ghana, but were turned away when they got to Kotoka International Airport,1 whileanother group of Italian tourists whose visas had expired refused to leave Ethiopia.2This will not be the first time Italians refused to leave Ethiopia.3 At the time ofthese two incidents back in March 2020, Italy was at the epicentre of the disease,and for a country that has, in recent history spurned African migrants, to now havesome of its citizens view Africa as a safe haven was the ultimate irony
