Nigeria has joined the developing listing of international locations that have demonstrated cases of the new COVID-19 variant referred to as Omicron.
The Omicron variant used to be identified in three guests from South Africa remaining week via genomic sequencing of nice samples with the aid of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The World Health Organisation (WHO) had labelled the new variant a Variant of Concern (VOC) after it used to be considered to be more transmissible and an extended threat of re-infection.
The Director General of the NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, advised states to make certain strict compliance with preventive measures, while ramping up pattern series and testing, mainly with permitted Antigen-based Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT).
He additionally entreated Nigerians to get vaccinated and adhere to the validated safety measures such as sporting face masks, normal hand washing and (or) sanitising with alcohol based sanitisers, and physical distancing.
He said: “The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) conducts case and genomic surveillance for inbound worldwide vacationers arriving in the u . s . at its National Reference Laboratory (NRL), Abuja and network of other testing laboratories. Sequencing of samples from COVID-19 superb inbound vacationers is currently carried out in laboratories with sequencing capability in the us of a and all the sequencing information are shared in publicly available databases.
“This genomic surveillance has now identified and validated Nigeria’s first cases of the B.1.1.529 SARS-CoV-2 lineage, now acknowledged as the Omicron variant. Samples received for the stipulated day two test for all travelers to Nigeria had been advantageous for this variant in three people with history of tour to South Africa.
“These instances were current arrivals in the united states of america in the past week. Follow up to make sure isolation, linkage to medical care, contact tracing and other relevant response activities have commenced. Arrangements are additionally being made to notify the united states of america the place tour originated according to the provisions of the International Health Regulations.
“The NCDC assumes Omicron is large globally given the growing quantity of nations reporting this variant. Therefore, it is a count of when, not if, we will identify greater cases. We proceed to expand our sequencing ability in-country at the NCDC-NRL, via our network of public fitness laboratories and different partners. Our focal point is to entire sequencing of currently amassed samples of SARS-COV-2 fine travelers from all countries, specially those from nations that have suggested the Omicron variant already.
“Since reports of the emergence of this Omicron variant, the Federal Ministry of Health via the NCDC has intensified public health response measures to COVID-19 in Nigeria.
“The country wide tour advisory has additionally been revised with the aid of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and now requires all inbound travelers to Nigeria current a terrible COVID-19 test result performed not greater than forty eight hours earlier than departure.
“Pre-booking and price for all day 2 and day 7 COVID-19 PCR exams are prerequisites for travel. In addition, all outbound passengers regardless of the requirements of destination countries are predicted to present proof of full vaccination or a bad COVID-19 PCR check completed now not later than forty eight hours earlier than departure. We attraction to Nigerians to adhere strictly to these travel protocols and different public security measures to shield themselves, families, friends, the community at large and to prevent a fourth wave of COVID-19 in the country as we combat the pandemic and these rising variants along with the Delta variant.”
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