THE Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has detected a confirmed case of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, also known as lineage B.1.617.2.
In a statement last night, the health agency said, “The variant was detected in a traveller to Nigeria, following the routine travel test required of all international travelers and genomic sequencing at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory, Abuja.”
The NCDC, however, assured Nigerians that the federal government has put measures in place to combat spread of the disease, asking them to adhere to the recommended safety protocols.
It added that “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.”
Data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) has shown that the Delta variant has an increased transmissibility, and has raised concerns across the globe.
The variant has also been detected in over 90 countries and is expected to spread to more.
Explaining that the variant has also been linked to a surge in cases in countries where it is the dominant strain in circulation, the NCDC added, “There are ongoing studies to understand the impact of the variant on existing vaccines and therapeutics.”
Nigeria, which confirmed its first case of the coronavirus in February 2020, has continued to witness a slump in the number of infections since the beginning of the year.
However, the Director General of the NCDC, Dr Chikwe Iheakweazu said, “The surge in cases in countries across the world and Africa is an important reminder of the risk we face.”
Over 160,000 cases of the disease have been confirmed in Nigeria.
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