Coronavirus: Nigeria reports the first confirmed case

The first confirmed case of the Coronavirus in sub Saharan Africa has been reported in the continent’s most populous nation, Nigeria.

The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health says one person in Nigeria has contracted the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19).

It is an Italian national , confirmed to have contracted the Coronavirus by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital on February 27, 2020.

He is reported to have flown into Lagos-Nigeria,  from Milan-Italy on February 25, 2020.

In a recent communique, the country’s Public Health Minister , Dr. Osagie Ehanire states that he is stable, and responding to treatment at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.

Public health officials are currently identifying the patient’s contacts to preempt the spread of the virus.

But Dr. Osagie Ehanire says the government is working to strengthen control measures.

“The multi-sectoral Coronavirus Preparedness Group led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has immediately activated its national Emergency Operations Centre, and will work closely with Lagos State Health authorities to respond to this case and implement firm control measures”.

Cameroon, Nigeria’s neighbor

The presence of the virus in Nigeria has put neighboring countries especially Cameroon on high alert.

The news of the first case in neighbouring Nigeria comes barely a week after, two suspected cases were declared negative by the Cameroon Centre Pasteur.

To keep the virus at bay, Cameroon’s Public health authorities have continued to reinforce preventive measures in public places, especially at entry points .

The current situation

Since it’s outbreak in December 2019,  about 2800 people , most of whom are from China have died , with over 82000 confirmed cases  in almost 50 countries .

In the wake of the growing figures, the World Health Organization says the virus had now reached a “decisive point”, with a “pandemic potential”

Kathy Neba Sina

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