Nigeria has recorded its first case of Omicron variant of COVID-19, reports The Gazelle News.com.
A statement from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed that the latest variant was imported into the country by travellers from South Africa who arrived in Nigeria last week.
The testing took place in Abuja.
Below is the statement from NDDC:
In line with the routine travel test required of all international travelers and genomic sequencing at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) through its National Reference Laboratory (NRL), Abuja –Nigeria confirmed it’s first case of the Omicron variant, also known as the B.1.1.529 lineage.
Genomic sequencing of positive cases from routine day two test for all travelers to Nigeria identified two cases of Omicron variant among travelers from South Africa who arrived in Nigeria in the last week
Please find attached our press release on the confirmation of this variant in Nigeria for your information and onward dissemination through your channels.
Best regards,
NCDC Communications