Nigeria detects first omicron cases

Nigeria has detected its first case of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus, with health officials saying that it was first detected in three travelers this week, according to The Associated Press. 

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control had previously stated that it had detected an omicron case in a sample from October, but issued a corrective statement later on Wednesday, according to the AP.

“Samples obtained for the stipulated day two test for all travelers to Nigeria were positive for this variant in three persons with history of travel to South Africa,” Nigeria CDC Director-General Ifedayo Adetifa said in the second statement issued Wednesday.

The statement said the previously identified test was actually a case of the delta variant.

The cases make Nigeria the first West African country to record the omicron variant as many in the international community have banned travel from southern African countries due to the strain, according to the AP.

“We are working very hard to enhance ongoing surveillance, especially for inbound travelers, and also trying to ramp up testing [including] at the land borders,” Adetifa said in the first statement. 

Much is still unknown about the omicron variant, including if it is more transmissible than previous strains or if it can evade the coronavirus vaccines. 

Nigeria has required all federal employees to get vaccinated against the virus or show a negative COVID-19 test to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, the AP noted.

This report has been updated to reflect that the first detected omicron cases were in November.