An Italian citizen working in Nigeria, brought the new coronavirus (COVID-19) to Nigeria, infecting the most populous country in Africa.
The new coronavirus a.k.a COVID-19, was first identified in December 2019. Its place of origin is wuhan.
Having infected over 80,000 in more roughly 2 months, the virus unlike other know viruses such as AIDS is highly contagious.
According to CDC (Centers for Disease Control ), COVID -19 is a new disease and there is more to learn about how it spreads and the severity of illness it causes
The Italian man who brought in coronavirus traveled from Italy, a country with 655 confirmed cases of the Virus. The man, returned on the 25th of February 2020, from Milan.
He was tested positive by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, part of the Laboratory Network of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The federal ministry of health has assured that no serious symptoms were recorded, and the condition is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.
Although the virus is new, it is vital to understand how to spreads, to avoid being infected. Here are the common ways by which coronavirus can be contacted
Person – to – Person
This is typical to those that are in close contact with one other as well as through the respiratory droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected person.
Contact with infected surfaces or objects
It is speculated that coronavirus spreads from contact with infected surfaces and objects. When a person touches the infected surface or object, and then touches their own mouth, nose, or eyes, coronavirus might infect them. Although, according to CDC, this isn’t a main way the virus spreads.
Symptoms of Coronavirus
The symptoms of coronavirus varies and might not be similar to other infections as it is relatively new. Here are the common respiratory symptoms according to World Health Organization (WHO):
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- and breathing difficulties
In severe cases, infection can cause:
- Pneumonia
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome
- Kidney failure
- Death.
How to Stay Safe?
The coronavirus shouldn’t affect those with good personal hygiene. Those who keep themselves clean at all times are at lower risk on infection. Dirty habits such as buying fruits from the roadside and eating without washing, buying meat and not cooking properly or the local suya meat, etc should not be entertained.
Here are some safety tips to help live out coronavirus infection:
- Always keep your hands clean; Wash after contact with unclean objects.
- Do not stay too close to people that sneeze or cough
- Beware of crowd!
- Maintain good personal hygiene; bath always, wash your clothes well, and keep yourself tidy.
