Concerns rise amid surge of COVID variants globally

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), says it is on red alert following global concerns about new strains of COVID-19.

At a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Director General, NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, warned that the resurgence of coronavirus in China and the increase in hospitalisation and death rates have renewed fears that the disease may be coming back stronger.

Recall that China had relaxed its zero-COVID policy leading to the circulation of new variants, mostly the BA.5.2 and Bf.7. types of the virus.

The NCDC while calling for caution amid the increase in variants and cases, warned that over 663 million confirmed cases and over 6.7 million deaths have been reported globally, already.

“In the Americas and Western Pacific (including China), there has been a 74 and 29 percent increase in cases and a 49 and 35 percent increase in deaths respectively, although in the African Region reports a 73 percent and 32 percent decrease in new cases and deaths compared to the previous week, according to Adetifa.

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Meanwhile, the NCDC boss revealed that Nigeria has tested 5,708,974 samples, confirmed 266,463 cases, discharged 259,850 covid patients and recorded 3,155 deaths.

As the virus mutates, experts claim the XBB.1.5 variant of Omicron is the most transmissible form but it is not clear yet, if it is more dangerous than its ancestors.

However, the COVID virus has continued to take a different epidemiological course in the country as most cases, admissions and deaths have only been related to the Omicron sub-lineages.

NCDC said, “Since the detection of the Omicron variant in December 2021, its sub-lineage (BQ.1/BQ.1.1) has been dominant in Nigeria.

Despite the mutations and continuous spread, the NCDC warns that the most effective preventive strategy against the disease remains full vaccination.

“The most important action for Nigerians to take is to get vaccinated against COVID-19, as the vaccine is the most important intervention for preventing severe disease, hospitalisation, and death.