The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has revealed that the country’s first cases of COVID-19’s Omicron variant have been identified.
Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, Director-General of the NCDC, announced this in a press statement issued on Wednesday.
The three cases of the variation were detected by genome sequencing, according to the health service, and the cases were linked to three passengers from South Africa.
“This genomic surveillance has now identified and confirmed Nigeria’s first cases of the B.1.1.529 SARS-CoV-2 lineage, now known as the Omicron variant,” the statement read.
“Samples obtained for the stipulated day two test for all travelers to Nigeria were positive for this variant in three persons with a history of travel to South Africa.
“These cases were recent arrivals in the country in the past week. Follow up to ensure isolation, linkage to clinical care, contact tracing and other relevant response activities have commenced. Arrangements are also being made to notify country where travel originated according to the provisions of the International Health Regulations.”
South Africa revealed a novel coronavirus illness strain called Omicron variant, which was first discovered in Botswana.
Following the finding, countries such as the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, among others, imposed travel prohibitions on countries in southern Africa.
