West African nation of Togo has confirmed its first case of coronavirus, according to the government.
Health officials in Togo confirmed the case on Friday. The patient is 42-year-old woman who was resident in the capital Lome.
According to a statement the patient had visited Benin, Germany, France and Turkey in February and early this month before being diagnosed.
The patient has been quarantined for further treatment although in stable condition.
The rate of spread of the coronavirus is now rising across Africa with Egypt confirming 12 more cases among occupants of a cruise boat on the River Nile on Friday.
Cameroon also recorded its first case on Friday with cases in Africa now surpassing 40.
Egypt (15), Algeria (17) and Nigeria (1) Tunisia (1) Morocco (1), South Africa (1), Togo (1) and Senegal (4) are the cases so far.
More than 100,000 cases and over 3,000 deaths have been recorded in some 60 countries worldwide.
The coronavirus outbreak began in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year.
Victims of coronavirus often suffer from respiratory illness. The virus is a global public health emergency, according to the World Health Organisation.
Already the impact of the outbreak is being felt with African Airlines reportedly losing $400m due to suspension and cancellation of flights to and from China since the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Most airlines suspended and even canceled flights to and from China in February when the outbreak became serious.
Airlines like South African Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Air Tanzania, Air Mauritius, EgyptAir, RwandAir and Kenya Airways announced the suspension of flights last month.
Last year the airlines posted losses of $100m and this year’s figure could be higher due to the current outbreak.
Source: Africafeeds.com
