Africa on alert for first case of Wuhan coronavirus
- Ivory Coast woman with flu-like symptoms under observation in isolation in West African country after arriving from Beijing on the weekend
- Various countries across the continent ramp up screening for the illness to prevent its spread
The woman, a student who has lived in Beijing for five years, was in isolation, under medical observation and her condition was “satisfactory”, the health ministry said.
“There is a suspicion of a case of coronavirus pneumonia. The final diagnosis will be established after the results of the analysis of the samples taken,” Aouele said.
Several African countries, including South Africa, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia, have already issued alerts and ramped up screening for the coronavirus, which emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last month and has killed 81 people in China.
Africa has become home to millions of Chinese immigrants, investors and workers since Beijing aggressively moved to the continent in search of raw materials for its industries and markets for its products.
