Dr Takavafira M. Zhou
As much as World Health Organisation (WHO) knowledge on covid 19 is well cherished, its declaration that mophane worms (madora) cause covid 19 as recently reported by the Standard news paper, is unacceptable. From time immemorial, Africans have consumed madora without infection by covid 19 pandemic. The relationship of madora and covid 19 is farfetched, remote and mere speculative conjecture.
It is clear that WHO may simple have detested the way it is harvested by individuals and not companies. All the same it seems WHO is far detached from the process of harvesting madora in Africa. When madora are freshly harvested they are heated/fried and dried at above 100 degrees celsius. To imagine that covid can survive beyond 100 degrees celsius is ludicrous hallucination of the worst order. Above all, before they are eaten they are cooked at 100 degrees for a long time thereby destroying any covid. WHO must therefore come clean on where covid 19 exactly comes from. If it’s a question of hygiene, let it be stressed on all foods and not mophane worms perse. These mophane worms are rich in proteins and a source of food for many African people that cannot be condemned outrightly.
However, there is certainly need to improve hygiene in their harvesting during this covid 19 period. But to totally condemn their consumption is uncalled for and would deprive many Africans of their important source of food and leave such communities worse off than before. As such, the claim that madora cause covid 19 must be dismissed with the greatest contempt it deserves until it can be scientifically proved where the covid 19 is derived from in the mophane worms consumption.
I rest my case
Dr Takavafira M. Zhou.
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