RUSTENBURG - Senegal has become the fourth African country to confirm Covid-19 (coronavirus), the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday.
The West Africa country reported its first case on Monday, the patient is a French national and a resident of Senegal who returned to Dakar on 26 February.
The patient had stayed in the southern French town of Nimes as well as in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region. He has been isolated at a hospital in Dakar.
Algeria, Egypt and Nigeria have reported cases. The case in Senegal was confirmed a day after Algeria reported two new cases on Sunday.
"As countries in Africa confirm cases, the virus is no longer a threat to the continent, but a reality,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa.
"We are working with countries in the region to ensure that measures are taken to contain further spread of the virus."
The case was confirmed by the National Reference Laboratory of the Pasteur Institute of Senegal.
The ministry of health has notified the WHO and a team of experts from the WHO emergency hub in Dakar were supporting the Senegalese health authorities.