The year started with a deadly virus originating from Wuhan in China. The coronavirus was confirmed in the Chinese city on January 7, 2020. Cases have since been confirmed in several other Asian countries, Europe and the United States.
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that range from the common cold to MERS coronavirus. Which is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus and SARS, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus.
The deadly Coronavirus, was suspected to have made its way to the African country of Ivory Coast amidst fear and panic.
However, luckily for the motherland; in what would have been the first confirmed coronavirus case in Africa; Ivory Coast’s health ministry on Wednesday said the suspected case of coronavirus in the country had tested negative.
Apparently, a student who had travelled from Beijing to Abidjan over the weekend had shown flu-like symptoms; ‘coughing, sneezing and experienced difficulty breathing’.
In a statement, the Ivorian health ministry said that tests by research institutes in Ivory Coast and France had come back negative for the virus.
According to the ministry, the 34-year-old student who as a result, was quarantined while tests were carried out is being treated for her symptoms and is recovering well.
Africa’s Battle Against Coronavirus
Furthermore, The World Health Organisation’s Africa emergency response program manager Michel Yao advised health ministers in the region to activate standard flu screening at airports for passengers coming from mainland China.
There is a considerable community of students in China from African countries; and a number of them have expressed their desire to return home. As authorities struggle to contain the coronavirus. Other countries across the world are considering the option of evacuating their citizens.
Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda therefore, are among other countries have started implementing surveillance and screening at airports; especially for travelers arriving from Wuhan in China where the outbreak began in December.