Experts Warns The New COVID-19 Strain Has Crossed Into Nigeria

Premium Times reports that a new strain of Coronavirus that is currently causing a stir has emerged in Nigeria.

Experts working at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID) at Redeemers University in Ede, Osun state confirm this.

The new version of COVID-19 discovered in the UK in September is labelled with lineage B.1.1.7.

In an article published on the Virological website by ACEGID experts, they claimed to have seen the disease in people in Osun.

Experts say they first saw the virus in Osun State on a blood sample taken in August. In October, the virus was detected in another body.

As a result of the outbreak, many countries around the world imposed sanctions on United Kingdom, barring people from the region from entering their country.

The head of ACEGID, Professor Christian Happi, who is an expert in the field, said they have seen a B.1.1.7 lineage in Nigeria.

Despite the increase in COVID-19, the professor said so far only 1% of nurses in Nigeria have been infected with SARS-CoV-2.

He said other COVID-19 strains, such as the N501Y, A570D, and HV 69 – 70, had not yet appeared in the population.

You heard yesterday that the Federal Government is contemplating imposing a travel ban on flights from the United Kingdom and certain parts of the world over the new strain of COVID-19 manifesting in the UK.

Naija News reports that countries like Spain, India, Hong Kong, etc have suspended flights to and from the UK.