COVID-19 Omicron Variant Hits Nigeria, Two Travellers Detected

According to PMNews Nigeria, the new Covid-19 variant has been detected in Nigeria. Ontario’s Ministry of Health has confirmed two cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, in two individuals with recent travel from Nigeria. The two travellers have been isolated, according to a statement by the Ontario Ministry of Health.

This information should send an alarm to the Nigerian Government that the new Omicron Variant that has been detected in Africa most especially in South Africa has been detected in Nigeria.

Omicron, dubbed a “variant of concern” last week by the WHO that is potentially more contagious than previous variants, has now been detected in Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Britain, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Canada, and South Africa.

According to Reuters, many countries have imposed travel bans or curbs on Southern Africa to try to stem the spread. Financial markets dived on Friday, and oil prices tumbled.

A South African doctor who was one of the first to suspect a different coronavirus strain said on Sunday that symptoms of Omicron were so far mild and could be treated at home.

Yesterday, the province of Ontario has confirmed two cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in Ottawa, both of which were reported in individuals with recent travel from Nigeria”, the ministry said.

Ottawa Public Health is conducting case and contact management and the patients are in isolation,” read the statement, published by globalnews.ca.

“In addition to the measures recently announced, we continue to urge the federal government to take the necessary steps to mandate point-of-arrival testing for all travellers irrespective of where they’re coming from to further protect against the spread of this new variant.”

The new variant has also thrown a spotlight on huge disparities in vaccination rates around the globe. Even as many developed countries are giving third-dose boosters, less than 7% of people in poorer countries have received their first COVID-19 shot, according to medical and human rights groups.

The detection of Omicron triggered global alarm as governments around the world scrambled to impose new travel curbs and financial markets sold-off, fearing the variant could resist vaccinations and upend a nascent economic reopening after a two-year global pandemic.

In its statement, the WHO said it was working with technical experts to understand the potential impact of the variant on existing countermeasures against COVID-19, including vaccines.