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Nigeria Records Sub-Saharan Africa’s First Coronavirus Case Nigeria Records Sub-Saharan Africa’s First Coronavirus Case
(about 3 hours later)
NAIROBI, Kenya — Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, on Friday confirmed its first case of coronavirus as the illness continued its steady global march, stoking concern about how an outbreak on the continent could overwhelm already overstrained health care systems.NAIROBI, Kenya — Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, on Friday confirmed its first case of coronavirus as the illness continued its steady global march, stoking concern about how an outbreak on the continent could overwhelm already overstrained health care systems.
The Nigerian Ministry of Health said the case, the first in sub-Saharan Africa, had been identified in Lagos, the country’s biggest city, which has a population of about 20 million. Officials said the patient was an Italian citizen who works in Nigeria and had returned from Milan on Tuesday. The unnamed man was said to be stable, with no “serious symptoms,” and was being treated at a hospital in Lagos.The Nigerian Ministry of Health said the case, the first in sub-Saharan Africa, had been identified in Lagos, the country’s biggest city, which has a population of about 20 million. Officials said the patient was an Italian citizen who works in Nigeria and had returned from Milan on Tuesday. The unnamed man was said to be stable, with no “serious symptoms,” and was being treated at a hospital in Lagos.
The virus, which emerged in central China late last year, has spread to almost 50 countries, sickening more than 83,000 people and killing more than 2,850 — mostly in mainland China. But in recent weeks, the virus has spread across the globe with outbreaks in Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea raising fears of a global pandemic and rattling global markets.The virus, which emerged in central China late last year, has spread to almost 50 countries, sickening more than 83,000 people and killing more than 2,850 — mostly in mainland China. But in recent weeks, the virus has spread across the globe with outbreaks in Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea raising fears of a global pandemic and rattling global markets.
One of the biggest concerns has been how the outbreak could affect Africa, a continent with relatively weak health care and disease surveillance systems. Movement and engagement between China and Africa has expanded enormously over the past two decades, and those links have been seen as increasing the risk of the virus transferring. One of the biggest concerns has been how the outbreak could affect Africa, a continent with relatively weak health care and disease surveillance systems. Movement and engagement between China and Africa have expanded enormously over the past two decades, and those links have been seen as increasing the risk of the virus transferring.
Dozens of flights operate between China and capitals across Africa on a weekly basis, shuttling thousands of workers and traders to and fro. To combat the potential spread of the deadly outbreak, airlines including Egypt Air, Kenya Airways and South African Airways have suspended their flights to China.Dozens of flights operate between China and capitals across Africa on a weekly basis, shuttling thousands of workers and traders to and fro. To combat the potential spread of the deadly outbreak, airlines including Egypt Air, Kenya Airways and South African Airways have suspended their flights to China.
Ethiopian Airlines, which operates the largest number of flights between China and Africa, has refused to follow suit despite widespread criticism from political and business leaders across the continent.Ethiopian Airlines, which operates the largest number of flights between China and Africa, has refused to follow suit despite widespread criticism from political and business leaders across the continent.
Nigerian officials on Friday said they were working to identify everyone who might have had contact with the patient in Nigeria. They did not say how the patient had first been identified, and no age or other biographical details were provided. The Nigerian minister of health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said in a statement that the country had been shoring up its preparations ever since the first confirmed cases of the virus in China.Nigerian officials on Friday said they were working to identify everyone who might have had contact with the patient in Nigeria. They did not say how the patient had first been identified, and no age or other biographical details were provided. The Nigerian minister of health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said in a statement that the country had been shoring up its preparations ever since the first confirmed cases of the virus in China.
“We will use all the resources made available by the government to respond to this case,” Dr. Ehanire said.“We will use all the resources made available by the government to respond to this case,” Dr. Ehanire said.
To date, 26 African countries have reported suspected coronavirus cases, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And despite the spread of the disease globally, only three countries on the continent, Algeria and Egypt in North Africa and now Nigeria in the sub-Saharan region, have announced confirmed cases.To date, 26 African countries have reported suspected coronavirus cases, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And despite the spread of the disease globally, only three countries on the continent, Algeria and Egypt in North Africa and now Nigeria in the sub-Saharan region, have announced confirmed cases.
The case in Algeria was an Italian who arrived in the country on Feb. 17, according to the World Health Organization. With more than 650 cases and 17 deaths, Italy has the largest outbreak of the coronavirus in Europe.The case in Algeria was an Italian who arrived in the country on Feb. 17, according to the World Health Organization. With more than 650 cases and 17 deaths, Italy has the largest outbreak of the coronavirus in Europe.
Despite the relatively small number of confirmed cases in Africa, medical experts have expressed worry about how the continent would cope with any outbreak. In preparation, the Africa C.D.C., in collaboration with the W.H.O., has worked with countries to improve their surveillance and testing processes.Despite the relatively small number of confirmed cases in Africa, medical experts have expressed worry about how the continent would cope with any outbreak. In preparation, the Africa C.D.C., in collaboration with the W.H.O., has worked with countries to improve their surveillance and testing processes.
Currently, 26 laboratories are able to test for the coronavirus on the continent, up from just two in early February, according to the W.H.O.Currently, 26 laboratories are able to test for the coronavirus on the continent, up from just two in early February, according to the W.H.O.
Dr. Ngozi Erondu, an associate fellow in the Global Health Program at Chatham House, an international research group in London, said the fact that Nigeria had been able to confirm the coronavirus case in just two days was “a very positive reflection of the disease surveillance and laboratory capacity in Nigeria.” But it will be key, she said, for all African countries to enhance scrutiny of travelers, especially those coming from countries with documented outbreaks.Dr. Ngozi Erondu, an associate fellow in the Global Health Program at Chatham House, an international research group in London, said the fact that Nigeria had been able to confirm the coronavirus case in just two days was “a very positive reflection of the disease surveillance and laboratory capacity in Nigeria.” But it will be key, she said, for all African countries to enhance scrutiny of travelers, especially those coming from countries with documented outbreaks.
“Staff at points of entry must realize that Covid-19 has no ethnicity or nationality, so personal biases must be checked,” she said, using the name of the disease caused by the coronavirus.“Staff at points of entry must realize that Covid-19 has no ethnicity or nationality, so personal biases must be checked,” she said, using the name of the disease caused by the coronavirus.
On Wednesday, the Kenyan government faced criticism for allowing China Southern Airlines to resume flights from Guangzhou Province in China to Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. The authorities said that all 239 passengers on the first plane after the service restarted had been screened onboard, cleared and advised to self-quarantine for 14 days.On Wednesday, the Kenyan government faced criticism for allowing China Southern Airlines to resume flights from Guangzhou Province in China to Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. The authorities said that all 239 passengers on the first plane after the service restarted had been screened onboard, cleared and advised to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Many on social media rebuked the decision, with some calling officials negligent given that the government had yet to evacuate Kenyan nationals in Wuhan, the Chinese city at the center of the epidemic.Many on social media rebuked the decision, with some calling officials negligent given that the government had yet to evacuate Kenyan nationals in Wuhan, the Chinese city at the center of the epidemic.