Hopes that the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) that started in China would be bridged from crossing over to sub-Saharan Africa crash as Nigeria confirms the first coronavirus case in Lagos state Nigeria.
The case was first rumoured on the 27th of February 2020 but was later confirmed to be true in the early hours of February 28, 2020, by Dr. Osagie Ehanire at the virology laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
It’s believed that the 2019 coronavirus came into Nigeria through a Nigerian-based Italian businessman who recently returned from a business trip to Milan on February 25th.
Right now, the patient is reported to be “clinically stable” as he is being treated at a dedicated facility for infectious diseases says’health authorities’.
Also, the ministry of health and medical practitioners are attending to the subject to ensure it doesn’t spread further.
How does Coronavirus infection spread?
Coronavirus or COVID-19 infection spread through close contact with infected people. The transmission can happen through contact with the feces of infected patients. Coughing, sneezing, touching surfaces or objects including money (Naira, Dollar or any currency) and shaking hands with infected persons are also a transmission means.
Symptoms of Coronavirus – mild and severe
The mild symptoms of coronavirus include common cold, fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, headache, sneezing, body weakness and shortness of breath. While the severe symptoms are pneumonia, diarrhea, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and organ failure.
Note: The majority of patients with coronavirus explained their symptoms were mild. This is because of their good health conditions.
If you are healthy and have been exposed to the infection your symptoms are likely to be mild. The severe symptoms only show up in elderly people, sick patients with organ failure such as heart, kidney, and lung failure. Diabetic and other medical conditions sufferer are prone to the severe symptoms of coronavirus as well and of which may cause death in the process.
If you notice anyone with the infection symptoms (such as coughing or sneezing in an uncontrolled manner) here are emergency operation center numbers in Nigeria you can call
- NCDC Toll-free Number: 0800-970000-10
- Sms: 08099555577
- Whatsapp: 07087110839
Advice: Coronavirus can be deadly especially now that it has arrived in Nigeria. Your focus now should be to protect yourself through the preventive steps issued by WHO and CDC.
Steps to prevent Coronavirus in Nigeria
There is general information going viral on the internet that eating garlic and rubbing ogogoro may help prevent coronavirus in Nigeria. But one won’t actually know how true that is until tested.
However, here are steps on how to prevent coronavirus in Nigeria as issued by the World Health Organization
- Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
- Don’t stay close to people that are sick.
- Avoid attending events that gather crowed
- Practice respiratory hygiene such as covering your mouth and nose with your elbow, towel or tissue when you want to cough or sneeze.
- Make sure your hands are clean each time you want to touch your nose, eyes, and mouth.
- Develop the habit of sleeping for at least 6hours at night and 60minutes during the day.
- Take medications as soon as you notice symptoms and don’t let the condition worsen.
- Do not share items like dishes, glasses, bedding, and other household items.
- Clean and disinfect hard surfaces that you frequently touch.
- Do not go to work or public areas if you feel sick and speak to your doctor immediately.
- Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat or animal organs.
- Washing your hands regularly with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Maintain a distance of at least 1 meter (3 feet) from people who are coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid contact with live animals around your living area, markets or places that have recently had new Coronavirus cases.
Also read: About the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) and causes
Since the Coronavirus infection mostly affects people with weak immune systems, it’s pertinent you build a strong immune system. Eat foods high vitamin C such as vegetables and fruits. In the case, you are not eating enough vitamin C from foods, take vitamin C dietary supplements to strengthen and build your immune system.
Read More:| know how Vitamin C boosts the immune system
Source:| Aljazeera, Quartz African, and WHO
