Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has advised Nigerians to protect themselves against the new Wuhan coronavirus disease.

Chinese researchers first identified the virus with the pathogen behind a mysterious illness that had sickened 59 people in Wuhan, a city of 11 million in Central Mainland China. Recall that coronavirus is a group of viruses common among animals, but has now been confirmed that it could also infect humans.

In a public health advisory on Wednesday, the Director-General of NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, thus, stated that the sypmptoms of the new coronavirus 2019nCoV tended to cause mild to severe respiratory symptoms like breathing difficulties and cough.

He noted that

from current evidence, it appears that death is a rare outcome, mostly in patients with underlying illness.

Ihekweazu explained in the advisory that there was no sure treatment for disease caused by the Wuhan coronavirus yet, but a lot of the symptoms could be treated.

He stated that

treatment is based on the patient’s clinical condition. In addition, supportive care for infected persons can be highly effective.

The NCDC boss, who noted that the centre was currently coordinating a multisectoral technical group in assessing and managing the risk of importing the virus to Nigeria, said

NCDC is in close communication with World Health Organisation (WHO) which is closely monitoring the situation globally.

He added that while the Port Health Services unit of Federal Ministry of Health are already on alert and had increased screening measures at points of entry, Nigerians could maintain some simple hygiene measures to keep safe.

He advised Nigerians to adhere to the following measures to protect themselves:

• Healthcare workers should always observe standard infection prevention and control measures when attending to patients and take a travel history.
• Cover your mouth and nose properly with handkerchief or tissue paper when sneezing and/or coughing. You may also cough into your elbow if a handkerchief is not available.
• Wash your hands regularly with soap under running water
• Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing
• Avoid self-medication, report to the nearest health facility when you experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.