Nigeria, April 7 -- Tedros Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organisation, has dismissed as "racist" a suggestion by two French scientists that the coronavirus vaccine should be tested in Africa.

Science professors, Jean-Paul Mira of Cochin Hospital in Paris and Camille Locht of Inserm, France's national medical research centre, appeared on French television LCI on April 2 to debate potentials for COVID-19 cures.

Mr Mira wondered if he "may be provocative, should this study not be done in Africa?" Mr Locht then replied: "You are right. We are currently thinking similarly about a study in Africa regarding the BCG vaccine. There is a proposal that has gone out - or will. We will seriously consider it."

Their statement elicited immedi...