It has been confirmed by the Lagos State Ministry of Health of the first case of COVID-19 in Lagos state, Nigeria and has been reported to the Federal Ministry of Health.
The case, which was confirmed on the 27th of February 2020, is the first case to be reported in Nigeria since the outbreak in China in January 2020.
According to the Ministry, the case is an Italian citizen who entered Nigeria on the 25th of February from Milan, Italy for a brief business visit. He fell ill the following day, 26th February and was transferred to Lagos State Biosecurity Facilities for isolation and testing.
Following the completion of test, COVID-19 infection was confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, part of the Laboratory Network of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
The Ministry said the patient is clinically stable, with no serious symptoms, and is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos Mainland.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government under the Governor as the COVID-19 Incident Commander, through the Lagos State Ministry of Health, has been strengthening measures to ensure that any outbreak in Lagos is controlled and contained quickly in collaboration with the multi-sectoral Coronavirus Preparedness Group, led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The LASG has immediately activated the State Emergency Operations Centre to respond to this case and implement firm control measures.
According to the government, it is ready to use all resources made available by the State and the Federal Government to respond to this case.
“We are working to identify all the contacts of the patient, since he arrived in Nigeria. Please, be reminded that most people who become infected may experience only a mild illness and recover easily, but it can be more severe in others, particularly the elderly and persons with other underlying chronic illnesses,” the Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Prof Akin Abayomi said.
He also urged citizens not to abuse social media and indulge in spreading misinformation that causes fear and panic.