Dozens of doctors help Lagos airport coronavirus screening

More than 60 doctors have been sent to the international airport in Lagos to boost screening efforts, Nigerian authorities told the BBC.

The first positive case of coronavirus was confirmed in Nigeria’s commercial capital on Friday morning.

According to authorities, the patient who tested positive for the virus was screened at the international airport upon arrival in Lagos, but the virus was not detected because of the delay it takes for symptoms to appear.

This has sparked concern over whether Nigeria’s screening capabilities are adequate to cope with an outbreak. Despite this, the government said it would not suspend international flights or begin to quarantine travellers.

Officials say they have reviewed the manifest of the flight carrying the coronavirus patient, and have started tracking those who have been in contact him.

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control says it is ready to curb the virus spread and urged Nigerians to take preventative measures to protect themselves from potential exposure.

Nigeria is now the third country on the continent with a positive case of the virus, the first in sub-Saharan Africa.