FLASH: First Case of Coronavirus confirmed in Rwanda (an Indian)
East Africa country, Rwanda has confirmed its first case of coronavirus, an Indian citizen who arrived in the country from Mumbai on March 8, the Health Ministry said on Saturday.
He showed no symptoms on arrival but presented himself to a health facility on March 13, the ministry said. Rwanda is the 19th African nation to report the presence of coronavirus and the second in Eastern Africa after Kenya.
“He is currently under treatment and in stable condition, isolated from other patients,” the ministry said. “The tracing of all contacts has been conducted for quarantining and further management.
RwandAir, Rwanda’s national airline, announced it was suspending all flights to India until April 30 and would refund customers.
Africa had until now largely been spared the rapid spread of COVID-19, which has infected at least 127,000 and killed 5,000 persons worldwide.
Experts are however confident that Africa will be able to stem the tide as they have shown purposeful leadership in curbing the spread of COVID-19 as evidenced in the continent’s minimal casualty rates. Nigeria which yesterday announced their second case of coronavirus have fully recovered and tested negative is Africa’s power house as regards fighting of deadly diseases.
Other African nations to have reported cases of the virus include Morocco, Tunisia, Lesotho, Egypt, Algeria, Senegal, Togo, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia.
Reuters
Featured Image: Paul Kegame
