New ‘Nigerian COVID’ strain attacks UK city after rise in cases

A new strain of Coronavirus currently killing twice as many people as other variants have been detected in Kent, a county in Southeast England, a UK-based newspaper, Daily Record has announced. The new variant discovered in Nigeria has sparked fears it could be even deadlier than the South African form, according to reports.

Experts in the country are concerned a rise in cases of mutant strains this week could impact lockdown, resulting in restrictions being pushed back.

Believed to have originated in Nigeria and known as B1525, it is so far found to have killed 4.3 per cent of the people it has infected. That is almost double the 2.3 per cent killed by the now dominant new strain widely known as the Kent variant, which itself was found to be more deadly than the original Coronavirus strain.

The Nigerian strain also carries the feared mutation known as E484K, which helps it evade antibodies, potentially making vaccines less effective.

It is so-called reportedly because of the number of cases in Nigeria and in travelers from Nigeria. The strain is currently only listed as a “variant under investigation” by Public Health England. But there were already at least 277 cases recorded in England by March 20, making it the second most numerous new variant behind the South African strain.

Most cases appear to be in London, Northwest, and Southeast England, which make up almost a quarter of the cases.

Public Health England has however warned that the increasing numbers are largely due to increase in checking for variants. A spokesperson said: “PHE is monitoring data about emerging variants very closely and where necessary, public health interventions are being undertaken, such as extra testing and enhanced contact tracing.

“The number of positive PCR tests currently being genomically sequenced has risen to 40 per cent from five per cent in January, which in turn has contributed to a rise in confirmed cases of a number of variants. It is unlikely that a single mutation would stop any vaccine from working completely and recent studies show the vaccines we are now deploying are effective against the dominant variants in the UK.

“The best way to stop the spread of the virus is to follow the public health advice – wash your hands, wear a face covering and keep your distance from others.”

It is understood that surge testing is not yet being carried out in relation to the Nigerian strain, because it is still designated as a “variant under investigation” not a “variant of concern”. So far, it has killed 12 of 277 people found to have been infected with it, compared to nine of 410 for the South African strain.

Chairman, Expert Review Committee on COVID-19, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, told The Guardian yesterday: “The new Nigerian strain in UK was discovered in Nigerians arriving UK. A lot of the cases they are finding are because of the strain.”

HOWEVER, describing Nigerian scientists as worthy assets to be nurtured, President Muhammadu Buhari has observed that the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the potentials, talents, and creativity of scientists. In a speech delivered yesterday by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at a public forum organised by the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, the President commended Nigerian engineers for the diversity of their experience and competence. 

READ ALSO: Nigeria making progress on COVID-19 vaccine, rapid testing kits – Osinbajo

According to him, “the pandemic has truly opened up the immense talents and creativity of Nigerian scientists and engineers and if the current momentum is supported, the next few years could be incredibly exciting.” 

Speaking on the important role of Science, Technology, and Engineering in dealing with the pandemic, the President noted that the world “turned to these disciplines for immediate solutions and answers. I am sure that as engineers, you will agree with me that one of the most poignant lessons of the response to the pandemic is the critical interdependence of science and engineering.”

Giving an update on the production of a local vaccine, the President noted that the African Centre of Excellence for the Genomics of Infectious Disease located at Redeemer’s University Ede, has “developed an efficacious rapid test for COVID and has been working on a vaccine in collaboration with DIOSynVax (Digital Immune Optimised Synthetic Vaccines), Cambridge UK, using the DIOSynVax genomic-based technology.”

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