The index case of Covid 19 in Nigeria, an Italian is now free of the virus and was on Friday evening allowed to leave the isolation centre of Yaba Mainland Hospital where he was quarantined and treated.
It will be recalled that Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, had on Friday said the test result of the Italian whose name has not been revealed had returned negative.
Ehanire made the disclosure while giving a live update on the situation of Coronavirus in Nigeria on Friday.
Nigeria announced its first Coronavirus case in February when the Italian who came into the country through a Turkish Airlines flight and had contact with several persons in Lagos and Ogun states tested positive for the virus.
He was taken to Lagos for treatment and the people he came into contact with in Ogun State were isolated and monitored for 14 days.
One of the contacts of the Italian who later tested positive for coronavirus was treated and has been declared free of the virus.
Announcing that the Italian has been confirmed free of the virus and has been discharged on his Facebook page on Friday evening, the Governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said, “As the COVID-19 Incident Commander for Lagos State, I am glad to inform you that the index case the Italian gentleman is now negative.
“Through a combined effort of Lagos State, Ogun State and Federal Health Authorities, we were able to limit the transmission if the virus to a single contact.
“This involved aggressive contact tracing and containment strategies. However we now have several new imported cases and we hope we can apply the same contact tracing strategy along with social distancing to slow down the outbreak which may be brewing from these new cases.
“The index patient consented to donating one unit of white blood (otherwise called plasma) before he was discharged today. The blood plasma is rich in antibody proteins that target #COVID19 virus.
“The white blood plasma is frozen in our Bio-bank and will be useful in handling new cases.
“The blood plasma will be beneficial for the treatment of new patients in the absence of a defined therapeutic drug for #COVID19 yet.
“The index patient appreciated the exceptional care and support given to him by staff of the mainland infectious Disease Hospital,Yaba, all members of the EOC / @followlasg.
“The EOC team was extremely happy to bid the patient farewell.
Once again, we like to convey the enthusiasm of our team to do the very best possible in handling incidents of Coronavirus.”