By Asmau Ahmad
Nigeria has so far recorded 10 new cases of the Delta COVID-19 variant, Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu disclosed at the ministerial briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja,
The Delta variant is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a variant of concern, given its increased transmissibility. And the variant has so far been detected in over 90 countries.
Dr Ihekweazu, who was represented by Mrs Elsie Ilori, Director of Disease Surveillance Department, while giving an update on the Nigeria’s COVID-19 situation, said that while progress had been made in response to the ongoing pandemic with the fact paced development of diagnostic, therapeutic, and vaccines globally, variants of concern with increased transmissibility pose a threat.
“With sequencing efforts, we have detected 10 cases which are confirmed to be the Delta variant. We are working hard to ensure genomic surveillance of travelers’ samples and to scale up our genomic sequencing capacity.
“While doing this, we are scaling up our testing capability, by the rollout of rapid Diagnostic Test Kits (RTDs), in selected states nationwide.
“As we have mentioned before, we encourage congregate setting, such as hospitals, schools, workplaces and correctional facilities, to take advantage of the WHO, approved RTDs kits to detect cases promptly,” he explained.
The NCDC boss disclosed that the country’s test positive rate based on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), test alone, which he noted was an indication used to understand the level of virus transmission increased to 3.4 percent in the country.
“This represents a rise compared to Test Positivity Rate (TPR), which was sustained for several weeks at around 1 percent in the country. In addition, last week five deaths were recorded.
“These figures must serve as a strong warning to be even more on our guard regarding reducing the risk of COVID-19 spread, especially considering the more transmissible Delta variants detected in the country,” he advised.
Ihekweazu stressed that Lagos state continued to have the highest contribution to the current caseload in the country.
He noted that states which have recently recorded increases in cases include Akwa Ibom, Ekiti, Oyo and Rivers states.
“Akwa Ibom had a sudden surge in cases in the last week and so, we have deployed a Rapid Response Team, to support the state’s response activities.
“The team will support Akwa Ibom’s Emergency Operations Centre incident management systems, ensure smooth running of samples collection centres, laboratory cases detection and general coordination,” he disclosed.
The DG said that while the agency continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was also focusing on other infectious diseases.
“Our response to the cholera outbreak has continued and as at July 22, a total of 22,130 suspected cases and unfortunately 526 deaths, have been reported due to this illness in 18 states and the FCT.
“However, in the last two weeks, a decline in cases has been recorded and the Emergency Operations Centre, in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and other partners, is continuing to coordinate a multi sector response.,” he said.
The NCDC boss noted that the agency always ensured that it made records of challenges from each outbreak and put in measures to improve the next response.
