The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced
Thursday night that it has detected a confirmed case of the Delta variant of
COVID-19, also known as lineage B.1.617.2.
In a statement, the agency said the variant was detected in
a traveler to Nigeria, following the routine travel test required of all
international travellers and genomic sequencing at the NCDC National Reference
Laboratory, Abuja.
The agency has urged Nigerians to step up the COVID-19
safety protocols. It also urged state governments to ensure sample collection
and testing for the virus is accessible to all.
“Given the high transmissibility of the Delta variant and following its detection in Nigeria, NCDC urges all Nigerians to ensure strict adherence to public health and social measures in place.
“Proven public health and social measures such as physical
distancing, frequent handwashing, and proper use of face masks, prevent
infections and save lives. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective and
offers protection against the disease.
“Additionally, states are urged to ensure sample collection
and testing for COVID-19 is accessible to the public. Public settings such as
schools with accommodation facilities, workplaces and camps should utilise the
approved Antigen-based Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for rapid testing of their population”.
Read the rest of the statement:
The Delta variant is recognised by the World Health
Organization (WHO) as a variant of concern, given its increased
transmissibility.
The variant has been detected in over 90 countries and is
expected to spread to more countries. The variant has also been linked to a
surge in cases in countries where it is the dominant strain in circulation.
There are ongoing studies to understand the impact of the
variant on existing vaccines and therapeutics.
As part of Nigeria’s COVID-19 response, NCDC has been
working with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), African Centre
for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), and other laboratories within the
national network, to carry out genomic sequencing. This is to enable the
detection of variants of concern, and initiate response activities. All data on
variants from Nigeria have been published on GISAID, a global mechanism for
sharing sequencing data. Given the global risk of spread of the Delta variant,
positive samples from international travellers to Nigeria are sequenced
regularly.
The Government of Nigeria through the Presidential Steering
Committee (PSC) has initiated several measures to reduce the risk of spread of
COVID-19. This includes the introduction of travel restrictions from countries
where there is a surge in cases associated with widespread prevalence of
variants of concern. The national travel protocol which includes compulsory
seven-day self-isolation and repeat test on the seventh day after arrival, are
in place to reduce the risk of spread of the virus. It is very important that
this is strictly adhered to, to prevent a surge in COVID-19 cases in Nigeria.
Given the high transmissibility of the Delta variant and
following its detection in Nigeria, NCDC urges all Nigerians to ensure strict
adherence to public health and social measures in place. Proven public health
and social measures such as physical distancing, frequent handwashing, and
proper use of face masks, prevent infections and save lives. The COVID-19
vaccine is safe and effective and offers protection against the disease.
Additionally, states are urged to ensure sample collection
and testing for COVID-19 is accessible to the public. Public settings such as
schools with accommodation facilities, workplaces and camps should utilise the
approved Antigen-based Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for rapid testing of their
population.
According to the Director General of NCDC, Dr. Chikwe
Ihekweazu, “Although we have seen a low number of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria in
the last eight weeks, it is incredibly important that we do not forget to be
careful. The surge in cases in countries across the world and Africa is an
important reminder of the risk we face. Please protect yourselves and the
people you love by adhering to the known public health and social measures,
getting vaccinated if you are eligible and getting tested if you have
symptoms”.
The recommended control measures to limit the spread of the
Delta variant continue to be testing, following the existing public health
guidance and abiding by the current travel and public restrictions.
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