While Nigeria continues to fight an unknown disease, suspected to be yellow fever, the number of daily coronavirus cases continues to rise.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the West African country recorded 236 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number of infected people to 65,693.

According to the NCDC, the last time Nigeria recorded a death from the coronavirus was last Friday when one patient died, taking the tally to 1,163.

The 236 new coronavirus cases were reported in 14 states, including Lagos 142; Ogun 19; Kaduna 15; Federal Capital Territory 14; Imo 14; Rivers 14; Plateau 6; Katsina 3; Ekiti 2; Jigawa 2; Oyo 2; Cross River 1; Kano 1 and Taraba 1.

The latest data shows that Lagos continues to be a hot spot for the coronavirus, with 142 new cases reported on Wednesday. The city has more than 22,000 infections, about a third of the country’s total.

Also, the recent spate of deaths to a “strange illness” in Nigeria, suspected to be yellow fever, has once again underscored the devastating impact that infectious diseases can have on large populations if not properly monitored.

Scores of deaths to the strange diseases were first reported in Enugu state two weeks ago and subsequently in Delta, Bauchi and Kogi states.

Two weeks ago, The Guardian newspaper quoted the NCDC director-general Chikwe Ihekweazu as saying: “We have deployed epidemiologists to support ongoing efforts. Initial samples from sick people returned negative for Covid-19, Lassa and yellow fever. We have collected more samples for further testing.”

He urged Nigerians to adhere to basic public health and safety measures to reduce spread. He said the centre would keep working with states to investigate, identify causative factors and mitigate risks.