The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has revealed that four Nigerians have already tested positive for the more deadly and contagious Covid-19 variant which was first discovered in London.
The centre's Director-General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, on Monday disclosed this at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
According to him, those that tested positive included three Nigerians who had travelled out of the country and one who is currently in Nigeria.
To him, it was not surprising to find the new strain in the country given the rate of traveling between the UK and Nigeria.
He said, "in the last week, we have had three reports of the UK variant of interest, the B117 strain found in individuals that have left Nigeria to two other countries.
"When they were tested, this strain was found in them within a week of returning to Nigeria. This was reported to us through the international health regulations and it is most likely this strain was acquired in Nigeria.
"With our partners, the African Centre for Excellence in Genomics in Ede, we sent 50 samples to them and one of those samples had the UK variant linked to increased transmissions"
The new variant of COVID-19 was discovered in London raising putting other countries on alert with some shutting their country against the country.
The new strain is believed to be more contagious and deadly than the Coronavirus which emanated in Wuhan city of China almost two years ago.
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