COVID-19: Nigeria announces first case of Omicron variant

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has confirmed two cases of COVID-19 Omicron variant in the country.

A statement signed by the NCDC Director-General, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa said the two cases were discovered through genomic sequencing.

Adetifa said the cases were detected in two passengers who came into the country from South Africa, adding the patients were asymptomatic and contact tracing had begun.

”Genomic sequencing of positive cases from routine day two testing for travellers to Nigeria identified two cases of Omicron variant among travellers from South Africa who arrived in Nigeria last week.

“Retrospective sequencing of previously confirmed cases among travelers to Nigeria also identified the omicron variant among samples collected in October 2021”, he added.