Nigeria confirmed its first case of the coronavirus in Lagos, the West African country’s biggest city and commercial capital, the Health Ministry said. It’s also the first reported in sub-Saharan Africa.
The case was confirmed on Feb. 27, the ministry said in a statement on its website. The case is an Italian citizen who works in Nigeria and returned from Milan to Lagos on Feb. 25, it said.
The patient is clinically stable with no serious symptoms, and is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos, the ministry said. Officials are working to identify all the patient’s contacts since he entered Nigeria.
Africa’s most populous country is also one of China’s major trading partners on the continent, with most of its imports coming from the Asian country, according to Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics.
Algeria has also reported a coronavirus case. Health experts have voiced concerns over the possible spread of the coronavirus in places like Africa that may be ill-equipped to handle such a crisis.
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer.
He could be contacted at udohrapulu@gmail.com