Nigeria declares search for persons who had contact with its first coronavirus patient
Nigeria’s health authorities are on a hunt for all persons who had contacts with the Italian who was diagnosed with the country’s first coronavirus case.
“We are working to identify all the contacts of the patient since he arrived in Nigeria.
“Please, be reminded that most people who become infected may experience only a mild illness and recover easily, but it can be more severe in others, particularly the elderly and persons with other underlying chronic illnesses,” a statement signed and issued by the Lagos State Commissioner, Prof Akin Abayomi, said.
Three days after Nigeria recorded its first case, which also happened to West Africa’s first, the Nigerian State of 20 million people, hopes to track contacts of the Italian to nip a possible spread in the bud.
Nigeria records first coronavirus case amidst fears of unpreparedness
The statement said the patient, who returned to Nigeria from Italy, has been placed in quarantine in Lagos.
“We will use all the resources made available by the State and the Federal Government to respond to this case.
“We are working to identify all the contacts of the patient since he arrived in Nigeria.
He, however, cautioned Lagos residents not to create tension by spreading false information about the disease on social media.
“Citizens must not abuse social media and indulge in spreading misinformation that causes fear and panic. The Lagos State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, will continue to provide updates and will start all measures required to prevent the spread of the outbreak in Lagos,” he said.
Nigeria is one of 13 African countries that the World Health Organization classified as a high priority in this outbreak because of direct links to China or a high number of visitors from there.
WHO concerned about the virus spreading to countries with weaker health systems declared the outbreak a ‘global health emergency’.
In 2014, Nigeria was praised for quickly containing cases when the Ebola outbreak reached the country after an infected man from Liberia landed in Lagos.
Nineteen people were infected and seven died, but Nigerian officials were praised for effective public awareness campaigns and strong leadership.
The global spread of the Convid-19 outbreak transformed into a fierce sprint since Tuesday, with over 13 countries recording their first confirmed cases as the World Health Organisation warned of an epidemic.
More than 83,000 people in at least 47 countries have been infected with over 2,860 deaths confirmed. Most of the cases were in China.