Following a confirmed case of Covid-19, (Coronavirus) in Lagos, the federal government said it has already began processes to identify all possible contacts with the patient, starting from the aircraft he flew in from, down to the hospital were he was tested, assuring Nigerians that it has all the necessary capacity and high level of preparedness to contain current patient from Milan, Italy and avoid further spread.
The minister however expressed concern that Coronavirus spreads easily because patients do not show symptoms immediately and may not know they have the virus for days. But said it was a relief that the patient showed mild symptom and is already under strict isolation.
“The relief is that the patient is not showing any serious symptom and the other relief is that as far as statistics is concerned more than 97 percent of patients have recovered,” Ehanire said at a press briefing in Abuja in Friday.
“The man walked through the screening with no symptoms, but a day after he started to feel unwell and wisely enough he went to a hospital and the doctor examined him, he tested negative for malaria, and he was immediately referred to LUTH where he tested positive for coronavirus and he was immediately put under strict isolation,” Ehanire explained.
“We have been in touch with the aircraft authorities to find out who his seatmates were and how many people have possibly been infected. We will do everything possible and use every resources to limit and contain this virus so it doesn’t spread,” he assured.
Ehanire However said the confirmed case in Nigeria is not a failure of screening, noting that 80 percent of Coronavirus cases are mild and could go undetected, as obtained in other countries that have recorded a case, while 20 percent are severe, though the disease is still under investigation.
The minister further said, despite the confirmed case, Nigeria will still follow the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and will not put restriction on international travel or begin quarantine, but will continue screening at Port health services, encourage self isolation of suspected cases and question those with trave history to China.
“We will follow WHO guidelines, because recklessly stoping international travel can backfire. So, as long as we can control it, we don’t need to overreact, we are working with WHO. I only advice people to keep a social distance from people coughing and sneezing and observe respiratory hygiene”, he said.
On level of preparedness, the minister further informed that federal government has released all amount of money requested by the NCDC and port health services requested. He said N620 million has been disbursed to NCDC while recalling that N71 was initially disbursed to port health services.
He explained that as part of efforts to tighten level of preparedness, federal government has increased reagents for testing, assuring that there will be no shortage of commodities such as face masks. He also said the four laboratories across the country have full capacity to respond to the Virus.
He also recalled that Nigeria has already obtained treatment protocol from China, which was used to treat over 5,000 people from the virus.
Ehanire added that Nigeria will continue working with WHO while training and capacity building will be ongoing to be abreast with the virus.
The minister however said the identity of the patient from Italy will not be identified or his company without his prior permission.
Meanwhile, the officer Charge, WHO Nigeria, Peter Clement commended Nigerians on its speedy response to the Virus in Lagos while assuring of more support.
