Nigeria has confirmed its first case of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant also known as B.1.1.529 lineage, as countries strengthen restrictions on cross-border travels in an attempt to reduce its spread.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said two cases of the new mutation were detected among two travellers who arrived in the country from South Africa last week.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced this new development in a statement signed by NCDC’s Director-General, Ifedayo Adetifa, on Wednesday morning.
The disease control centre said the two cases of the new Omicron variant were discovered through “genomic sequencing.”
It later updated that three new cases were confirmed not two.
The statement reads in part: “In line with the routine travel tests required of all international travellers and genomic sequencing at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control through its National Reference Laboratory, Abuja, confirms Nigeria’s first case of the Omicron variant.
“Genomic sequencing of positive cases from routine day two testing for travellers to Nigeria identified two cases of Omicron variant among travellers from South Africa who arrived in Nigeria last week.
“Retrospective sequencing of previously confirmed cases among travellers to Nigeria also identified the omicron variant among samples collected in October 2021.”
On Monday, the Canadian government announced that it detected cases of the Omicron variant from two travellers from Nigeria.
But the NCDC has announced that efforts are in top gear to strengthen surveillance in the country and curb its spread.
Mr Adetifa, while appearing on Channels Television programme, “Sunrise Daily,” said little is known yet about the variant but urged Nigerians to get vaccinated as the best arsenal against the pandemic.
