ABIDJAN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene of Cote d'Ivoire announced Wednesday the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the country.

According to a statement signed by Eugene Aka Aouele, the health minister, the patient was declared suspicious Tuesday by the health district of Ajje-Plateau-Attiecoube for having symptoms of "fever, cough and cold."

Laboratory analysis of the nasopharyngeal specimen confirmed Wednesday the diagnosis of COVID-19, the statement said.

The patient was "quickly taken care of" at the University Hospital Medical Center of Treichville in Abidjan and "his clinical condition is stable and reassuring," according to the minister's press release.

The health minister reassures people that "all measures are taken for better management of this case and to control the spread of coronavirus epidemic."

To date, it is the 8th country in sub-Saharan Africa hit by the virus, after confirmed cases in Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Cameroon, Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  ■