Ebun Francis| Nigerian has confirmed a second case of Coronavirus as one of the persons who had contact with the Italian who tested positive for coronavirus in Lagos has come down with the disease.
The patient who tested positive to the disease on March, 8 is now under quarantine and receiving treatment.
Health minister, Osagie Enahire who made the disclosure at a press briefing in Edo state on Monday, however, assured Nigerians that the situation is under control.
He said, “The newly confirmed case is an Ogun state contact of the index case but he has no significant clinical symptoms. This brings the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nigeria to two.” he said.
“Since the outbreak of the disease in China and the subsequent spread to other countries, one of the important strategies at the containment stage has been to identify all contacts, ensure that strict isolation tactics are followed duly to check for symptoms of the disease.
“Following recent experiences from other countries and evidence from newly published studies of known symptomatic infections, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) advised that samples be taken from all contacts of the index case for testing. It is in this process that this new case was detected.
“I repeat that the newly confirmed case in Nigeria is not a new importation but a contact of the index case, who has since been in isolation. The patient still does not have any medical symptoms and is being sent to the infectious disease facility in Lagos.
“All other contacts of the index case in Ogun and Lagos will remain in isolation and tests will be carried out on those who have not been tested. The federal ministry of health in Lagos and the Ogun state ministry of health will do all that is needed to control the spread of this outbreak.
“I want to emphasise that scientific studies are still ongoing. We urge all Nigerians to take care of their health and protect both others and themselves by regularly and thoroughly washing hands with soap and water and also use alcohol-based hand sanitisers. I urge all Nigerians to stay informed on the latest developments on COVID-19 through official channels.”
Nigeria’s index case of coronavirus, an Italian, was diagnosed in February and is currently receiving treatment at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.
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