It is the very first confirmed case of coronavirus in sub-Saharan Africa: in Lagos, Nigeria, a man tested positive for the deadly virus from China. This is worrying news because, according to the WHO, the continent is not ready to face an epidemic of coronavirus, because of the “more precarious” health systems of certain countries.
In Lagos, the economic capital of Nigeria, the news sowed panic: a case of coronavirus was detected. The announcement was made on February 28 on Twitter and then at a conference with the Nigerian Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire.
Sub-Saharan Africa had however been spared the virus from Wuhan, China. Since December, it has so far infected approximately 83,000 people and caused 2,800 deaths worldwide.
The man contaminated in Nigeria is an Italian working in Nigeria, who came from Milan on February 25. Italy is the country most affected by the virus in Europe, with around 500 cases and 15 deaths.
Africa, vulnerable to coronavirus
On the rest of the African continent, only two other patients have tested positive for coronavirus in recent days, in Egypt and Algeria. Low figures that intrigue experts: are they linked to the local climate, a fluke, or poor detection?
WHO has declared that the African continent is not ready to face an epidemic.
