The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has revealed that the Delta variant cases of COVID-19 have so far been identified in the country.
The Director-General of the organisation, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, made this disclosure during the health minister’s update on the COVID-19 pandemic in Abuja on Monday.
According to him, ‘So far we have identified 10 delta variant cases in the country. Actually what we do is collect samples from the travelers. Most of the cases are from travellers coming into Lagos and Abuja. Once they come in, we collect samples.
‘The symptoms that it possesses are not like what we are used to, so that is why we need to be more careful.’
Represented by Elsie Ilori, Director of Disease Surveillance Department, he said the test positivity rate for COVID-19 has increased to 24 percent from the rate sustained in previous weeks.
He said as of 22nd July, the country recorded 22,130, suspected cases of cholera and 526 deaths from the disease in 18 states and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) .
Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said the world has witnessed an increase in reported cases of COVID-19 across a significant number of countries in the past 24 hours, due to the high transmissibility of the Delta Variant.
He said the threat includes importation from countries that are popular travel destinations for Nigerians, including the United Kingdom, United States, UAE, France, and Turkey, which have high incidence of this virulent strain.
‘Nigeria is at increased risk if we continue to neglect public health protocols placed at points of entry, which are our first line of defence and a critical point of concern,’ he added.
The minister said it is worrisome that despite evidence of the emergence of a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, citizens continue to refuse adherence to public health advisories.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
