The Lagos State Govern-
ment has alerted the public
to a new virus, the novel
Coronavirus (nCoV) which
is currently raging in China and have
been reported some countries of
the world including United States of
America and have caused no fewer
than nine deaths.
The State Government through a
press statement issued by the Com-
missioner for Health, Prof. Akin
Abayomi said Coronaviruses (CoV)
are a large family of viruses that cause
illness ranging from the common
cold to more severe diseases such as
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
(MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS).
Abayomi explained that the novel
Coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain
that has not been previously identified
in humans adding that Coronaviruses
are primarily infections of animals
that can be transmitted to humans.
“On 31 December 2019, the World
Health Organization (WHO), China
Country Office was informed of a
cluster of cases of pneumonia of un-
known cause, detected in Wuhan City,
Hubei Province of China. A novel
Coronavirus was identified as the
causative virus by Chinese authorities
on the 7th January”
“As of 22nd January 2020, a total
of 471 cases have been confirmed
in South East Asia and USA with 9
deaths. There is evidence now that the
infection is able to spread from person
to person”, the Commissioner said.
He disclosed that the common signs
and symptoms of the infection include
fever, cough, shortness of breath and
difficulty in breathing adding that in
more severe cases, infection can cause
pneumonia, severe acute respiratory
syndrome, kidney failure and even
death.
While noting that no cases of the
virus have been identified in Lagos,
Nigeria or anywhere in Africa, the
Commissioner stated that the State
Lagos is ramping up its level of
preparedness considering the large
commercial trading traffic between
Nigeria and China and Thailand.
“The Lagos State Biosecurity team
in collaboration with Lagos Univer-
sity Teaching Hospital is currently
working on building urgent capacity
to identify the virus in our Biosecurity
facility and isolation wards located
at the Mainland Infectious Disease
Hospital in Yaba in the event of any
suspected case arriving in Lagos State”
“We are in touch with Nigeria
Center for Disease Control (NCDC)
in Abuja to align our strategies.
Importantly we are also collaborating
with the Federal Ports Authority at air,
land and sea border posts to elevate
screening and surveillance of incom-
ing travelers”, he said
Abayomi urged citizens to adopt and
practice high standard of personal
and environmental hygiene includ-
ing regular hand washing, covering
of mouth and nose when coughing
and sneezing, avoiding close contact
with anyone showing symptoms of
respiratory illness such as coughing
and sneezing and practice good biose-
curity precautions with domestic and
wild animals as measures against the
transmission of any kind contagious
infection, nCoV inclusive.
The Commissioner advised citizens
travelling from South East Asia or any
country where the infection have been
reported or who have had contact
with travelers from that region and
experiencing above outlined symp-
toms associated with the disease to
go to the nearest health facility for
immediate assessment and treatment
or call 08023169485, 08033565529 or
08052817243 for assistance.
“The Lagos State Government is
committed to the health and safety of
her citizen and so, there is no cause
for panic or alarm. This alert is just
to assure you that we are preparing
for any eventuality as directed by Mr.
Governor”, Abayomi said.
Signed
Tunbosun Ogunbanwo
Director, Public Affairs
