CORONAVIRUS (2019-nCoV): Has Nigeria Prepared?

Coronavirus is a newly discovered deadly virus that is presently threatening our planet. Although the virus looks more of product than detective, but that is not our focus for this publication.

Following the out-break of the disease in the most populous Asia country - China last year December, A total of 2,019 confirmed cases have been reported globally; out of  which 1,996 cases were reported from China, including Hong Kong (5 confirmed cases), Macau (2 confirmed cases) and Taipei (3 confirmed cases). A total of 1,965 suspected cases have also been reported from 20 Chinese provinces, regions and states, While 23 confirmed cases have been reported outside of China in 9 countries.

Fig 1: Confirm Cases of Coronavirus in Different Countries

Source: WHO Situation report 5, 25 Jan., 2020

This virus in one month has travel history as 21 of the 23 out-China cases were imported to the affected states (Fig:2).

The cross border transmission of the virus therefore call for proactive and foresight actions.

The disease is so deadly that 56 deaths have been reported as at 25th of January. And the confirm cases of 2019-nCoV increases by 474 cases a day.

Fig 2: Method of transmission of out-China cases in 9 countries aside China.

Source: WHO Situation report 5, 25 Jan., 2020

If 91% cases outside China should be trans-border from china to other nine countries which include countries as far as France, Australia, and USA, then Nigeria should be expecting her own test trough her borders.

Don’t forget that Ebola was in the same way transported to Nigeria in 2014 which resulted in the death of a doctor at a Lagos hospital as the start of the disease’s outbreak in Nigeria and cause a number of deaths and panic. Nigeria government and its agencies has only speak about the virus (Coronavirus), its outbreak and their action against it in only six occasions since December and their approach is either not clear or exist not. Whereas, Nigeria has a very high potential of importing the virus as there is high movement fro and to China these days through business and other conventional transactions. Aside this the distance from China to Nigeria is not significantly different from that of those countries that have the virus imported already.

Meanwhile Ivory Coast has tested for the first case of the disease in Africa on a traveler from China to the country on Saturday 25th January, 2020. Nigeria government should learn from other countries of the world for the clue of what should be done to prevent out-break of the virus in her territory. These are examples of two countries, one of where the virus emerged and the other, one of the trans-border affected countries.

CHINA

•   Public education on disease prevention and environmental hygiene further strengthened in public places across the city, farmers’ markets in particular. As of 23 January, the National Health Commission revised protection standards and specifications for medical workers and strengthened prevention and control measures against 2019-nCoV in hospitals. 
• National authorities are conducting active case finding in all provinces. 
•  Search expanded for additional cases within and outside of Wuhan. 
•  Active / retroactive case finding in medical institutions in Wuhan. 
•  The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan was closed on 1 January, 2020 for environmental sanitation and disinfection, Market inspection in expansion to other markets.

AUSTRALIA

• Updated General Physicians, pharmacists, emergency departments, and the broader health system on the situation as it evolves to enable possible cases to be rapidly identified, diagnosed and managed. 
•  Developed diagnostic tests through the Public Health laboratories to rapidly diagnose cases. 
•  Supported the Commonwealth to provide advice and assess travelers for illness on the direct flight from Wuhan to Sydney. 
•  Providing regular updates to the community, through media briefings, media release and social media including in Mandarin. 
•  Infection with 2019-nCoV is now notifiable under the New South Wales Public Health Act 2010, so doctors and pathology laboratories are required to notify NSW Health of all people suspected to have this infection.

 We expect government to learn from these two states at least to start monitoring those who come into the country from anywhere not only from China and sensitization of both health workers and the general public on how to prevent or diagnose the disease.

These are individual precautions according to WHO’s standard recommendations for the general public to reduce exposure to and transmission of the virus:

• Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. 
•  When coughing and sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – throw tissue away immediately and wash hands. 
•  Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough. 
•  If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your health care provider. 
•  When visiting live markets in areas currently experiencing cases of novel coronavirus, avoid direct unprotected contact with live animals and surfaces in contact with animals. 
•  The consumption of raw or under-cooked animal products should be avoided. 
•  Raw meat, milk or animal organs should be handled with care, to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, as per good food safety practices.

Protect yourself and others from getting sick!