The Port Health Services, PHS, in a bid to control the importation of the new Covid Variant into the country, has put its team on standby at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, in Lagos State.
This became necessary after the World Health Organisation (WHO) placed the new COVID-19 variant, BA.2.8, under monitoring due to the multiple mutations it presents. A few sequences of the variant were reported across Israel, Denmark, and the United States.
Recently, the variant was also reported in Switzerland, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, UK.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Friday, 25th August, 2023, the Officer-in-Charge, Omede Ogu, said information on the new variant has been placed on the PHS emergency platform, and other agencies have been informed.
Ogu explained that personnel were on the ground, and cameras on the tarmac captured the body temperature of passengers when they alighted from the plane while structures were constantly reviewed.
He, however, urged Nigerians not to panic, assuring them that the situation was under control.
The Nigeria Centre fr Disease Control, NCDC, says it is also monitoring the new Omicron COVID variant, named EG.5 and BA.2.86.
It explained that EG.5 comes from XBB.1.9.2, which is connected to Omicron.
Story: Hauwa Mohammed