COVID-19 variant: Experts seek mass testing to prevent spread

Virologists and other medical experts on Tuesday urged federal and state governments to ensure mass testing  to  prevent the spread of a  new variant of COVID-19 in communities.

The experts, including a prominent virologist, Prof Oyewale Tomori;  a lecturer at the Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State,  Dr Oladipo Kolawole; a former first Vice President,  National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, Julian Ojebo, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association in the Federal Capital Territory, , Dr Enema Amodu, also urged Nigerians to strictly observe COVID-19 protocols.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control Director-General, Dr Chikwe Iheakwazu,  had at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, said a new variant of COVID-19 had been discovered in Nigeria and 15 other countries.

Recall that there was a report on February 15 that the United Kingdom had reported new cases of a variant of the coronavirus, said to have emerged from Nigeria.

The Guardian of London had quoted an associate professor of cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, Simon Clarke, as  explaining that the new mutation might  affect the efficacy of vaccines.

Tomori, in an interview said other countries might  ban Nigerian travellers as a result of the new mutants being discovered in the country.

He said there was the need for the country to increase its testing capacities.

The virologist  said, “If the numbers of Nigerian passengers with the mutants keep increasing and if the strains turn out to spread and cause severe disease, certainly, I expect a ban of Nigerians travelling to the United Kingdom and other countries. We have not reached that stage  yet, but it is a possibility, the UK government is definitely much more proactive on, and responsive to matters of the health of her citizens.

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“The E484K and other strains have been found in a few Nigerian cases, more than the UK. But you know they are testing far more samples than we are doing.”

Also, a medical virologist at the Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State,  Kolawole, said the clinical manifestation of the new mutants might differ.

“When virus mutates, it means a lot, some may lose their virulence, while the rate of pathogenicity may increase. What has been documented so far is the increase in the transmissibility, the clinical manifestation may differ.

“There is the circulation of mutant strains in the community.  If we test more the figure will change,” Kolawole said.

Specialist Registrar and Perioperative Medicine and Critical Care Physician, Julian Ojebo, stated the strain had not been ascertained.

“The B.1.2.5 strain was also seen in about 15 other countries and sequencing of this genome is still ongoing. We, therefore, advise that the NCDC does more testing so that more about the morbidity and mortality of this can be made by clinicians and help in sorting out new clinical presentations so we can educate the public better with regards to the symptoms of the new strain.”

He noted Nigerians were not in the habit of presenting themselves early for treatment. This, she stated, accounted for increasing COVID-19 deaths in the country.

Ojebo stated,  “ We plead with our people that they come out with any new symptom they have and tell us nothing but the truth so we can help treat them quickly and early.

“Getting COVID and recovering doesn’t make us immune.  It has lifelong debilitating effects and hence can have a poor prognosis in later years. We plead that we should all follow the guidelines as set by the NCDC so as to lead a better life.”

The Chairman of NMA in FCT, Dr. Enema Amodu, said Nigerian travellers should take responsibility by observing the COVID- 19 protocols of proper  face masks use, hand washing, physical and social distancing and avoiding crowds.

Other measures, he said, included, “Encouraging their families and friends to imbibe the COVID-19 protocols; testing for COVID-19, anytime they have symptoms suggestive of it,  reducing and eliminating all non-essential travels and  accepting the management of COVID-1 9, treatment and proper information of their contacts, whenever they test positive, to reduce community transmission.”

The Chief Executive Officer,  Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Dr. Patrick Dakum, on his part, called for increased  hand washing, social distancing and the use of face masks.

He also stated, “Restrictions may be applied to travellers from Nigeria, so we wait and see.”

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