World Health Organisation says Omicron is now the dominant Covid-19 strain in Nigeria

WORLD Health Organisation (WHO) officials have revealed that the Omicron strain is now the dominate Covid-19 variant in Nigeria warning that the authorities need to take the threat seriously as the next wave mat be very lethal.

In the main, Nigeria has been spared the worst excesses of the coronavirus pandemic, as in total, there have only been a total of 250,929 cases of which there have been 3,103 unfortunate deaths. These figures are relatively low when compared with the rest if the world where fatality rates are much higher including US 873,564, Brazil 621,099, India 486,482 and the UK 151,987.

Last week, the WHO said 30 African countries and at least 142 nations worldwide, had detected the Omicron strain. Prior to the arrival of this latest variant, the Delta strain had been reported in 42 African nations, according to WHO, the United Nations health agency.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO's regional director for Africa, said early indications suggest the continent’s fourth wave had been steep and brief but no less destabilising.  He stressed that Africa needs to step up vaccinations as a crucial pandemic counter-measure to avoid being at risk.

Dr Moeti added: “Omicron sequences in Cape Verde, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal are growing. Omicron is currently the dominant variant in both Cape Verde and Nigeria.

“We are rapidly and significantly increasing Covid-19 vaccinations. The next wave may not be so forgiving."

North and West Africa are seeing a rise in infections of late. North Africa reported a 121% increase over the last week.