Nigeria has detected its first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant in a pattern it collected in October, weeks earlier than South Africa alerted the world concerning the variant final week, the nation’s nationwide public well being institute stated Wednesday.
It’s the first West African nation that has recorded the Omicron variant since scientists in southern Africa detected and reported it and provides to an inventory of practically 20 nations the place the variant has been recorded, triggering journey bans internationally.
Genomic sequencing of constructive instances of COVID-19 amongst incoming worldwide vacationers has confirmed an Omicron case courting again to October, the Nigeria Middle for Illness Management stated in an announcement issued by its director-general. Nigeria has additionally recognized two instances of the Omicron variant amongst vacationers who arrived from South Africa final week.
“Retrospective sequencing of the beforehand confirmed instances amongst vacationers to Nigeria additionally recognized the Omicron variant among the many pattern collected in October 2021,” Nigeria CDC director-general Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa stated.
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Omicron variant was in Europe earlier than South Africa introduced detection, information reveals
A lot stays unknown concerning the new variant, together with whether or not it’s extra contagious, as some well being authorities suspect, whether or not it makes individuals extra severely in poor health, and if it will probably thwart the vaccine.
The Nigeria CDC urged the nation’s states and most of the people to be on alert and known as for improved testing amid issues that Nigeria’s low testing capability may grow to be its greatest problem within the face of the brand new variant.
Testing for the virus is low in lots of states and even within the nation’s capital, Abuja. As an illustration, in components of Kuje, a suburb of Abuja, Musa Ahmed, a public well being official, advised The Related Press that nobody has been examined for the virus for weeks.
The detection of the Omicron variant in Africa’s most populous nation, with 206 million individuals, coincides with Nigeria’s new requirement that each one federal authorities workers should be inoculated or current a detrimental COVID-19 take a look at end result achieved within the final 72 hours.
With the vaccine mandate taking impact on Wednesday, there have been chaotic scenes at a number of workplaces within the nation’s capital as civil servants and not using a vaccination card or a detrimental PCR take a look at have been turned away by safety brokers.
Lots of the staff and safety brokers weren’t carrying face masks.
“Governments ought to put money into selling narratives round vaccine security, efficacy, and the broader public well being safety implications of poor vaccines uptake,” Adewunmi Emoruwa, lead strategist at Gatefield, an Abuja-based consultancy. “If public servants are satisfied about these points, they’re naturally more practical advocates to their constituents.”
Throughout Nigeria, the information of the Omicron variant _ which the World Well being Group has warned poses “very excessive” danger – has triggered issues and renewed fears over the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the airport in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest metropolis and financial hub, authorities insisted that vacationers should put on their face masks on the counters, although not a lot consideration is paid to many others flouting well being protocols across the airport premises and within the metropolis.
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Omicron variant: Canada expands journey ban, seeks booster steerage
Nigeria – with 214,218 confirmed infections together with practically 3,000 deaths – has up to date its journey advisory, ordering incoming worldwide vacationers to have a PCR take a look at 48 hours earlier than embarking on their journey to the nation and two extra checks, two days and 7 days after arrival. Incoming worldwide arrivals should additionally isolate for seven days.
On Tuesday, Canada added Nigeria to its listing of African nations underneath a journey ban to restrict the unfold of the Omicron variant.
Amid world concern over the Omicron variant, the Nigeria CDC director-general advised reporters that the nation stays at alert within the face of the rising disaster.
“We’re working very arduous to reinforce ongoing surveillance, particularly for inbound vacationers, and likewise attempting to ramp up testing (together with) on the land borders,” he stated.
A slew of countries moved to ban travels from many nations particularly southern African nations within the aftermath of the emergence of the Omicron variant. However the transfer has been broadly condemned by many together with South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa, who’s at the moment in Nigeria on a two-day go to.
Additional west on the continent, Liberia launched surveillance alongside its borders and positioned well being officers assigned there on full alert though no instances of the Omicron variant have been reported there.
Liberia’s Well being Minister Wilhelmina Jallah urged residents to take preventive measures however not panic. She urged them to make the most of the vaccination marketing campaign.
“You can’t go to struggle in case you are not ready for the struggle,” she stated. “And our preparation for this struggle towards COVID-19 – whether or not it’s Alpha, Delta or Omicron – is to guard ourselves by getting a minimum of a jab in your arm … so we simply need to elevate this heightened alert.”
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