Experts believe the increase in both cases and deaths reported across the continent is a result of the spread of new coronavirus variants in Africa.
Some of the variants are had to track because the testing required to identify them is limited.
The “variants of concern” that are kept under the closest watch by health officials include:
The India variant (B.1.617.2) of which more than 2,000 cases have been seen in across the UK
The UK or Kent variant (also known as B.1.1.7) is prevalent in Britain – with more than 200,000 cases identified – and has spread to more than 50 countries and appears to be mutating again
The South Africa variant (B.1.351) has been identified in at least 20 other countries, including the UK
The Brazil variant (P.1) has spread to more than 10 other countries, including the UK