Botswana Registers First Suspected Case of Coronavirus
case of the
deadly coronavirus. A person arriving from China aboard Ethiopian
Airways showed symptoms consistent with the virus.
Botswana's
Ministry of Health said a man was detained at a local clinic soon after
his flight from China landed at Gaborone's Sir Seretse Khama Airport on
Thursday.
The ministry said the unnamed male displayed symptoms consistent with the coronavirus but did not say what those symptoms were.
The country's director of health services, Malaki Tshipayagae, said the patient has been isolated at a clinic in the capital as an investigation continues.
Meanwhile, the government has urged Botswana nationals to take precautions in order to avoid contracting the virus.
Nervousness
Mpho Marumo, a Gaborone resident, said there is panic after the first suspected case.
"We
are doing all we can to take the necessary precautions,” Marumo said.
"Our fear is that the virus might have spread already, as many people
arrive from China, some undetected."
The
suspected case came as some Botswana nationals were holed up in the
Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus outbreak.
Botswana
has an estimated 500 nationals studying or working in China. A student
who spoke on condition of anonymity said it had been a very difficult
few days.
"I
was supposed to leave to Botswana but my ticket was canceled,” the
student said. "Following that, we are not allowed to go anywhere."
The
World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency as
the death toll from the virus rose above 200 this week.
VOA
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