Nigeria Testing Two Suspected Persons For Coronavirus – NCDC

Two suspected persons are presently undergoing series of test for the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nigeria, the Federal Government revealed on Friday.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, who revealed this on Friday in Abuja said the two suspects have been undergoing series of test since of Thursday night. He said so far none have tested positive to the virus. He assured that Nigerians will be updated in the outcome of the tests.

“At least we have had 30 investigations of people that have called us for one reason or the other. Out of that, two of them have met the case definition, that is, the person will have to have returned in the last 14 days.

“The two cases were tested and were found negative. Last night (Thursday night), we had another two, and tests are going on at the moment. As soon as they are completed, it will be announced. If a person returns to the country, say within 20 or 30 days, there is no point wasting reagents to test such a person.

“For other diseases, we usually advise people to go to the hospitals to get tested, but for suspected cases of coronavirus, patients are advised to simply put a call through to us, we will come to the patient because going to the hospital can amplify the disease if it is found to be positive.

“Be assured that if there is a positive case, we will be the first to announce it. So if you see something on social media saying a number of people have died of the virus in Nigeria, it is simply a rumour. It is not possible that it will happen because there are only three labs in Nigeria that run these tests.

“Once there is a positive, I will be informed and will inform the Minister of Health who will announce it. There is no other way this information can get out.

“On behalf of the Africa Centre for Disease Control, Nigeria has been asked to lead on the training on infection prevention and control for the continent. The training will happen in Abuja starting on the 20th of the month, to standardize our approach to infection prevention and control” he said