Coronavirus: Danger Loom in Africa as Madagascar Announces Her First Covid-19 Death

Madagascar on Sunday announced the first death of a patient suffering from novel coronavirus , nearly two months after it was first detected in the country.

The 57- year -old hospital worked died on Saturday and had underlying diabetes and high blood pressure before he was infected , an official from the anti - coronavirus task team said .

“ It is with great sadness that we have to share with all our compatriots, that there is an individual , aged 57, who died from COVID - 19, ” professor Hanta Vololontiana said on public television.

He was a car park attendant at a hospital in the eastern city of Toamasina.

The Indian ocean island which has reported 304 cases has hit the headlines over a home-grown herbal concoction that President Andry Rajoelina claims can cure people infected with the virus .

Several African countries have ordered or expressed interest in the purported remedy, which is known as Covid- Organics .

The tonic drink is derived from artemisia — a plant with proven efficacy in malaria treatment — and other indigenous herbs .

But the World Health Organization has warned against “ adopting a product that has not been taken through tests to see its efficacy” .