Omicron: Nigerians panic as NCDC confirms three fresh cases

On Wednesday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control announced the discovery of three cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, TopNaija reports.

Virologists on Wednesday expressed concern that there was a high risk of community transmission of Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the country.

The virologists, including a professor of Medical Virology at the University of Maiduguri,  Marycelin Baba, who stated this in separate interviews while reacting to detection of three cases of the Omicron variant in the country, called for community testing.

The NCDC’s detection of three cases of Omiron variant came three days after Canada said it had detected cases of the variant in two travellers, who recently visited Nigeria.

A statement released by the NCDC Director-General, Ifedayo Adetifa, stated that the strain was detected in three persons with travel history to South Africa.

“The genomics 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. Samples obtained for the stipulated day two test for all travellers to Nigeria were positive for this variant in three persons with travel history 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 the country where travellers originated according to the provisions of the International Health Policy.

Also, On Wednesday, Nigeria recorded 52 new cases of COVID-19 infection, bringing the country’s total to 214,270, TopNaija reports.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed the figure in the data released Thursday morning.

NCDC noted that the 52 fresh infections were recorded in six states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

The Nigerian Public Health Institute stated that the cases were confirmed in the following States – Lagos (29), FCT (12), Kaduna (4), Bauchi (3), Kano (2), Ogun (1), and Oyo (1).

The NCDC also said that with one new death on Wednesday, the country’s fatalities stand at 2,978.

It added that 207,312 COVID-19 patients had recovered and had been discharged from hospitals across the country.

The centre said that Nigeria currently has 3,980 active COVID-19 cases, while a total of 3,580,510 blood samples had been tested since the pandemic began in 2020.

The Public Health Agency said that a multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 2, continues to coordinate the national response activities