NCDC confirmed two cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus in Nigeria, the center linked the cases to passengers from South Africa
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced the detection of two cases of Omicron variant of Covid-19 in the country.
This was made known today Wednesday, December 1, 2021, in a press statement released by the center through its Director-General, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa.
The Omicron variant of coronavirus was first discovered in Botswana and has since spread to several Southern African countries.
Following the discovery, the United States placed a travel ban on eight Southern African countries and the ban came into effect on Monday. November, 29.
ALSO READ: Two Nigerians diagnosed with Omicron in Canada
The eight African countries banned are South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi.
Meanwhile, on Monday, November 29, 2021, the government of Canada announced that two Nigerians passages were diagnosed with the Omicron variant of Covid -19 upon their arrival in Ottawa, Canada.
The Nigerian government was yet to announce the detection of the variant as at the time the Canadian authority made the revelation.
NCDC has, however, now confirmed that two cases of the new variant were discovered through genomic sequencing, and the cases were traced to two passengers from South Africa.
The statement issued by NCDC reads:
“In line with the routine travel tests required of all international travellers, 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 travelers to Nigeria identified two cases of Omicron variant among travellers from South Africa who arrived in Nigeria last week.”
The NCDC added that the patients were asymptomatic and that the center has commenced the process of tracing those who came in contact with the two passengers.
