Virologists on Wednesday expressed concern that there was a high risk of community transmission of Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the country. It
The virologists, including a professor of Medical Virology at the University of Maiduguri, Marycelin Baba, who stated this in separate interviews with The PUNCH while reacting to detection of three cases of the Omicron variant in the country, called for community testing.
The experts stated these as Canada placed travel bans on Nigeria, Egypt and Malawi.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control had on Wednesday morning announced the discovery of three cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
The NCDC’s detection of three cases of Omiron variant came three days after Canada said it had detected cases of the variant in two travellers, who recently visited Nigeria.
A statement released by the NCDC Director-General, Ifedayo Adetifa, stated that the strain was detected in three persons with travel history to South Africa.
“The genomics surveillance has now identified and confirmed Nigeria’s first cases of the B.1.1.529 SARS-COV-2 lineage, now known as the omicron variant. Samples obtained for the stipulated day two test for all travellers to Nigeria were positive for this variant in three persons with travel history to South Africa.
“These cases were recent arrivals in the country in the past week. Follow up to ensure isolation, linkage to clinical care, contact tracing and other relevant response activities have commenced. Arrangements are also being made to notify the country where travellers originated according to the provisions of the International Health Policy.
But virologists, who spoke to The PUNCH, faulted the proposed plan of the NCDC to embark on contact tracing following the announcement of the discovery of three cases of the Omricon varian
They called on the Federal Government to increase the vaccination rate in order to prevent more mutations.
A professor of medical virology at the University of Maiduguri, Baba, faulted the plans of the NCDC to engage in contact tracing a week after the samples were obtained.
Baba, who spoke in an interview in Abuja, added that the virus was already in circulation.
“Engaging in contact tracing a week after the samples were taken is a futile adventure and simply a waste of time. Contact tracing has never been effective. Do you know the number of places the person has been to ? The variant is already in circulation and there is a high risk of community infections but how will we even know when we do not even engage in community testing?
“At this point, we need to increase community testing, make sure that people are fully vaccinated. This is not just for civil servants alone but for all calibres of people. Also, it is important that we may continue to witness several mutations if we continue to have vaccination gap.”Another professor of Virology at the University of Ibadan, Professor Georgina Odaibo, agreed with Baba. Odaibo who is a former Head of Department at the Department of Virology, also advised the public not to let guards down.
She said, “Just as I suspected the virus has been found in the country and if the information we are getting is correct. It simply implies that the virus has been with us for a while.
“This strain has several mutations. The effects are not known; whether they are virulent or less virulent, no one really knows. This is not the time to let our guards down. Yes, contact tracing is good, but is it effective ? At this point we need to increase the rate of vaccination.”
