Nigeria confirms first case of Coronavirus, COVID-19

LAGOS, Nigeria – Nigeria has confirmed the first case of Coronavirus, COVID-19, which has been on the rampage in the international community. The Coronavirus epidemic was brought to Nigeria by an Italian, working in Nigeria but was in Milan, where the epidemic has infected over 200 people.

The Italian who arrived Nigeria, February 25, according to the Federal Ministry of Health, had his samples tested at the Virology Department, Lagos University Teaching Hospital(LUTH) and tested positive to the epidemic.

The Virology Labouratory is part of network of Laboratories set up by the Centre for Decease Control(CDC), Nigeria. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the Italian has been quarantined and clinically stable. He is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospita, Yaba, Lagos.

This is coming after a suspected Chinese citizen in Lagos was discharged after testing negative to Coronavirus, COVID-19.  

Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi who made this known through a press statement today noted that the likelyhood of COVID-19 infection in this particular patient was very low and the conclusion of investigations and sophisticated testing confirms that there is no case of Corona Virus in Lagos State as of now. 

“I would like to reassure Lagosians that our vigilance levels are very high and we are putting more measures in place to safe guard the State”, he said.

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While giving details of the investigation, Abayomi explained that the Ministry of Health’s attention was drawn to a suspected case of Corona Virus at Reddington Hospital; a private health facility located at Ikeja.

“From our investigation, we gathered that a Chinese citizen who arrived in Nigeria from China 7 weeks ago presented at Reddington Hospital yesterday complaining about fever. The hospital in keeping with the advisory we earlier issued, correctly maintained a high index of suspicion, isolated the patient and reported the case to the Ministry”

“We took up the case, transferred the patient to the State Isolation Unit at the Mainland hospital which is our specialised infectious disease hospital. His blood samples were taken to the Virology laboratory for analysis and it came out negative”, the Commissioner said.   

Abayomi appealed to citizens to refrain from posting unverified news that can cause unnecessary anxiety in community.

He urged citizens to disregard any information about the novel Coronavirus that does not emanate from official communication channels of the Ministry of Health or his office.