CAIRO, Egypt — Egypt’s health ministry has confirmed the first case of the coronavirus virus in Africa.

In a statement Friday, Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Mugahed said the person was a “foreigner” who is carrying the virus but not showing any serious symptoms.

Officials were able to confirm the case through a follow-up programme the government implemented for travellers arriving from countries where the virus has spread. The ministry statement said the person was hospitalised and in isolation.

The statement did not specify the person’s nationality or what port of entry he or she arrived at in Egypt.

The health ministry said it had immediately informed the World Health Organisation (WHO) and had taken all necessary preventative measures.

WHO Egypt said on Twitter the person was carrying the virus, but had not shown any symptoms and was in a stable condition.

A viral outbreak that began in China has infected more than 64,000 people globally. The WHO has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it.

The Egypt case is the first in the African continent. Experts and African leaders have expressed concern that should the virus spread on the continent, it might wreak havoc among less developed countries with limited health resources.