Federal Ministry of health in the early hours of Friday confirmed Nigeria first case of coronavirus- COVID-19, making it the first case in sub-Saharan Africa, even as infection rapidly spreads worldwide.
The Federal Ministry of Health has confirmed a coronavirus(Covid-19) case in Lagos State Nigeria. The case which was confirmed on 27/02/2020 is the first case to be reported in Nigeria since the beginning of the outbreak in China in January 2020 @WHO @BBCWorld #CoronaVirusUpdates pic.twitter.com/uF79NYzvAz
— Federal Ministry of Health, NIGERIA (@Fmohnigeria) February 27, 2020
The ministry as stated above said the confirmed case was in Lagos state, the commercial capital of the country, and Africa’s most populous country, with a population of about 20 million.
“The case…is the first case to be reported in Nigeria since the beginning of the outbreak in China in January,” the health ministry said in its post, adding that the infection was confirmed on Thursday.
As at press time the presidency was yet to make an official statement reacting to the development.
Hopes that the virus would be contained to China vanished on Friday as infections spread, with countries beginning to stockpile medical equipment and investors taking flight in expectation of a global recession.
Globally, 83,379 confirmed cases of Corona Virus, with 2,858 deaths, and 36,574 recoveries.
More details to follow.
