The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) verified the first case of Omicron variant in Nigeria on Wednesday, December 1.
In a statement, NCDC Director-General Dr Ifedayo Adetifa said that genomic sequencing at the NCDC’s National Reference Laboratory (NRL), Abuja, confirmed Nigeria’s first case of the Omicron variant, also known as the B.1.1.529 lineage, in line with the routine travel test required of all international travelers.
South Africa reported the Omicron variant, a novel coronavirus illness strain that was first discovered in Botswana.
“In line with the standard travel testing required of all international travelers, genomic sequencing at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control’s National Reference Laboratory, Abuja, confirms Nigeria’s first instance of the Omicron variation,” according to the release.
“Genomic sequencing of positive cases from standard day-two testing for travelers to Nigeria found two cases of the Omicron variation among South Africans 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.”
The NCDC, however, added that the two patients were asymptomatic and contact tracing had begun.
Meanwhile, a panel of US health advisers narrowly backed a closely watched COVID-19 pill from Merck which could lead to authorisation later this week.
Scientists have been scrambling to learn more about the effects of the Omicron variant, first detected in South Africa last week.
It remains unclear where or when the variant first emerged. But nations have rushed to impose travel restrictions, especially on visitors coming from Southern Africa, despite the World Health Organization’s call for “rational” measures in response to the new strain.
