The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has confirmed its first cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant in the country on Wednesday. ayokinews.com reports
The report was made public in a press statement issued by the NCDC Director-General, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa.
The Omicron variant of the COVID-19 pandemic is a new strain of the virus which was first discovered in Botswana and reported by South Africa.
Prior to the discovery of the Omicron variant, many countries such as the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Israel, amongst others have placed a travel-ban on South Africa and other affected nations.
Canada Detects First Cases Of Omicron Variant In Two Travellers From Nigeria
Also on Monday, the Canadian government discovered its first cases of the Omicron COVID-19 strain in two persons who had recently traveled to Nigeria. Further reacting to the report, the Nigerian Government through the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, stated that it was already investigating the issue so as to get more details.
The NCDC, on Wednesday declared that 2 two cases of the Omicron variant had been discovered in the country through what they called ‘genomic sequencing’. The Omicron cases have now been linked to 2 South African passengers who arrived the country.
Statement released by the NCDC reads in part: “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.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/30/what-lies-behind-the-allied-democratic-forces-armed-group