Burkina Faso officials say the patient who died from Covid-19 was Rose Marie Compaoré, a vice-president in the national assembly.
Rose Marie Compaoré was diabetic and died at the age of 62 after suffering complications from the infection.
“This tragic event calls us all to recognise the scale and seriousness of the problem which confronts us all,” said Martial Ouedraogo, the West African nation’s Covid-19 response co-ordinator.
“This is a very contagious illness that is potentially fatal and that for now has no treatment aside from prevention.”
Burkina Faso has confirmed a total of 26 cases with one death so far.
The first Covid-19 death in Burkina Faso is the Vice President of parliament, Rose Marie Compaoré. May she rest in peace
— Joe Penney (@joepenney) March 18, 2020
Africa has now recorded at least 10 deaths across five African countries from the current outbreak of Coronavirus.
Egypt has the highest death toll with at least six deaths with the latest deaths involving a 78-year-old Italian woman and a 70-year-old Egyptian man who died in an isolation hospital.
Egypt (6), Algeria (3), Morocco (2), Burkina Faso (1) and Sudan (1) are the number of deaths so far.
At least 31 African countries now have confirmed coronavirus cases totaling 529 with new cases being reported in countries like Gambia, and Zambia.
South Africa for example is recording a sharp increase in number of cases, 23 new cases of coronavirus in one day.
Nigeria on Wednesday also recorded five new cases and imposed travel bans immediately.
Source: Africafeeds.com