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Nigeria · West Africa
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Nigeria Confirms The First Case Of The Deadly Coronavirus, the Ministry of Health of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Thursday announced in Lagos, Nigeria.
In a press release on Twitter, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire said: “The case is an Italian citizen who works in Nigeria and returned from Milan, Italy to Lagos, Nigeria on the 25th of February 2020,” Health Minister Osagie Ehanire said in a statement on Twitter.
He was confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, which is part of the Laboratory Network at the Nigeria Center for Disease Control.
Efforts have been intensified to identify those who have had contact with the Italians.
Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire who disclosed this in a statement noted that the patient is clinically stable, with no serious symptoms and is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.
The Minister of Health reminded Nigerians that most people who become infected may experience only mild illness and recover easily, while It can be more severe in others, particularly the elderly and people with other underlying chronic illnesses.
This is clearly a game-changer as prior to this confirmed case in Nigeria, just two cases had surfaced across all of Africa, in the case of Egypt and in Algeria.
Nigeria Confirms First Case Of The Deadly Coronavirus
Nigeria becomes the third country in Africa to have a confirmed case of coronavirus aside from Egypt and Algeria and the first in West Africa.
The low prevalence of the virus in Africa has puzzled International Public Health Experts who expected a higher prevalence rate given Africa’s socio-economic ties to China.
Photo Credit: LASG
The World Health Organization warned earlier this week that African health systems were ill-equipped to respond to the deadly coronavirus outbreak should cases start to proliferate on the continent.
The WHO revealed that it was focusing its efforts on eight states and Abuja that have ports of entry either by air or water.
These states include Lagos, Kano, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Enugu, Delta and Bayelsa states.
In response, the Minister of Health argued that “the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health has been strengthening measures to ensure an outbreak in Nigeria is controlled and contained quickly.”
Nigeria Confirms First Case Of The Deadly Coronavirus
He further added that “the Multi-Sector Coronavirus Preparedness Group led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has immediately activated its National Emergency Operation Centre and will work closely with Lagos State Health authorities to respond to this case and implement firm control measures.”
The Minister warned Nigerians not to abuse social media and indulge in spreading misinformation that would cause fear and panic as the Federal Ministry of Health.
He urged all Nigerians to take care of their health and maintain hand and respiratory hygiene to protect themselves and others while avoiding self-medication.
Nigeria Confirms First Case Of The Deadly Coronavirus
