Covid-19: NCDC Raises Alarm Of Delta Variant In Nigeria, Urges Strict Adherence To Guidelines

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said it has detected a case of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in Nigeria.

The World Health Organisation had said that the Delta variant, which is the fourth variant of concern described by the organisation, is more transmissible than previous variants and has also been able to resist the antibodies in the blood.

The Organisation urged individuals to take vaccination, saying that all of the WHO emergency use listed vaccines protect against developing severe disease and death due to Delta variant.

However, the NCDC in a statement on Thursday, said that given the global risk of spread of the Delta variant, positive samples from international travellers to Nigeria are sequenced regularly.

It said, “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.”

The variant has been detected in over 90 countries and is expected to spread to more countries, according to the NCDC.

According to the statement signed by the Head of Communications, Yahya Disu, there are ongoing studies to understand the impact of the variant on existing vaccines and therapeutics.

It stated that as part of Nigeria’s COVID-19 response, NCDC has been working with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, African Centre for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, 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,” it stated.