COVID-19: Omicron variant not yet in Nigeria
Omicron is a new World Health Organization designated coronavirus Variant of Concern.
The national centre for disease control(NCDC) reported that the newly discovered variant of the coronavirus infection lineage known as Omicron has not been detected in Nigeria.
This came after the news that two travellers from Nigeria tested
positive for the Omicron variant in Canada.
The NCDC Director-General in a statement on Sunday said that the NCDC and the federal ministry of health(FMOH) are aware of a new variant of COVID 19.
They are
monitoring emerging evidence on this new variant and its implication which will inform
Nigeria's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The variant has so far not been detected in Nigeria, a number of cases have now been reported in the UK, Israel, Botswana, Hong Kong, Germany, Belgium and Italy.
The Omicron has a high mutation rate when compared to other earlier variants. This may explain the exponential
rise in COVID-19 cases observed in South Africa where the Omicron has been detected.
The new Covid 19 variant is considered highly
transmissible and may also present an increased risk of reinfection compared to
other variants of coronavirus. However, no deaths have been attributed to this new variant yet.
The recent public fears about the Omicron variant's ability to evade the human immune responses and also being vaccine-resistant are only theoretical so far.
This virus can still be detected
with existing Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests.
''The WHO
and researchers across the world are working at speed to gain an understanding
of the likely impact of this variant on the severity of COVID-19 and on the
potency of existing vaccines and therapeutics,"
WHO said that the agency will keep on their daily routine of review of surveillance data for public health purposes.
WHO said they are collaborating with Port Health Services of the FMOH to enhance surveillance at the airports and other points of entry into Nigeria.
The NCDC urges Nigerians to ensure strict adherence to the proven public health and social measures in place which includes:
- wearing face masks, especially in crowded areas.
- washing hands regularly.
- physical distancing from others where possible.
- avoid travel to countries with a surge in COVID-19 cases.
- avoid all non-essential travels, both local and international.
The NCDC said "Nigerians must do all they can to protect themselves and their country,"
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