Experts fear disease may be spreading already

Medical experts fear that the deadly coronavirus will spread in Nigeria following the report of the first case in Lagos State.

Foreign-based Nigerian doctor, Musa Yahaya, said that if the Italian suspected to come to Nigeria with coronavirus had spent two days with others in the country, the disease might have already spread.

Speaking in an interview monitored yesterday in Kaduna, Dr. Yahaya explained that it was frightening that coronavirus could easily spread when an infected person mingled with others from two to 25 days.

“This Italian must have contracted the disease from his interactions with others in his country before coming to Nigeria. Now that he is in Nigeria, government should redouble efforts to curb its spread in the country,” he said.

Another medical expert, Dr. Nasiru Gwarzo of Centre for Disease Control (CDC), in a BBC Hausa interview, advised Nigerians to improve on their hygiene as a means of avoiding the virus.

“In history, this is the fist time the world is witnessing this disease. The disease has all the symptoms of flu, but in a very severe manner. It leads to fever and could cause death, but like one in a hundred,” he said.

According to him, since a vaccine is yet to be found for the very contagious pandemic, good personal hygiene is important to avoid contracting the disease.

“Please whoever is suffering from flu and cold should avoid mingling with people. Please stay at home. If there are others in the house, please isolate.

“Avoid handshakes, especially with returnees. Inculcate the habit of washing your hands, use sanitisers,” he said.