TheCable

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says it is unlikely that a coronavirus patient in the US with travel history to Nigeria contracted the disease in the country.

Muriel Bowser, District of Columbia mayor, said the unnamed man tested positive for the virus on Saturday.

The US authorities said the man, who is in his 50s, lives in Nigeria but has been staying with family members in Washington DC.

There are two confirmed cases of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus in Nigeria — one in Lagos and the other in Ogun state.

Giving updates on the virus, the NCDC said considering the time he spent in Nigeria, it is unlikely that the US patient got infected with the disease in Lagos or elsewhere in the country.

“On the case reported in the US of Nigerian origin, we are in touch with colleagues at the US Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and here in Abuja,” NCDC said in a statement.

“The case visited Lagos in February 2020. However, given the timelines between the time he was in Nigeria briefly and when he became ill, the likelihood that he was infected in Lagos is very low.”

The centre asked Nigerians not to panic while warning against the spread of fake news.

“I again strongly advise against spreading misinformation to cause fear and panic. The Federal Ministry of Health and NCDC will continue to provide prompt and reliable updates and initiate all measures required to protect our people,” it said.

“A globally emerging lesson here is that some people who contracted COVID-19 appear to experience zero or only mild illness and will recover; however, other patients develop more severe symptoms, especially if they have other underlying illnesses, or are weakened by old age. I urge Nigerians to take care of their health and protect others.”

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 101,000 people have contracted disease globally, while over 3,000 people have died.