Coronavirus: New virus spreads to US as Nigeria remain silent

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The new coronavirus, which originated in China recently, has found its way to the shores of the United States.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), confirmed the development in a statement on its website on Tuesday.

It said the virus had been diagnosed in a traveler, who arrived in Washington on Jan. 15 from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where it broke out in December.

At least six people are reported to have died from the virus, and almost 300 others infected in China.

“The patient sought care at a medical facility in the state of Washington, where the patient was treated for the illness.

“Based on the patient’s travel history and symptoms, healthcare professionals suspected this new coronavirus.

“A clinical specimen was collected and sent to CDC overnight, where laboratory testing yesterday confirmed the diagnosis via CDC’s Real time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) test.

“How easily the virus spreads between humans is unclear at the moment,” the statement said.

However, the Nigerian government is yet to announce measures to stop the virus from spreading to the country.

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The country is still grappling to contain Lassa Fever which has claimed the lives of two doctors and a pregnant woman in Kano.

On Tuesday, Ondo State Epidemiologist, Dr Steven Fagbemi, said that Lassa Fever has so far killed 16 since its outbreak early January.

He said that Ondo had recorded 84 cases of the disease from January 1 to date.

According to him, 16 of the patients died because their cases had reached advanced stages before they were taken to hospital.

He also disclosed that 47 patients currently on admission were responding to treatment, while 21 persons had been treated and discharged.

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