The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control,NCDC,has confirmed a discovery of new variant of Omicron variant known as B 1. 1.529 lineage in the country .
The agency confirmed it was brought into the country through two travellers from South Africa.
The disclosure was made by the NCDC communication centre Wednesday.
Full statement below:
Dear Colleagues,
Greetings from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
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
