The Nigerian government has made it clear that Nigeria does not have the recently discovered XEC COVID-19 variation that has been found in Australia and a few other European nations.
Kachollum Daju of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare affirmed that a recently leaked letter to the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors was merely a precautionary measure and wasn’t meant to incite fear.
Daju went on to say that the XEC COVID-19 strain has been found in 29 nations and that hospitals must take precautions to make sure the nation is not caught off guard because of the holiday season when tourists from all over the world arrive.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare asked health authorities to maintain a high index of suspicion for patients exhibiting COVID-like symptoms and to activate heightened warning systems throughout hospitals in a letter dated December 5, 2024.
The correspondence The letter, which was signed by Dr O.N. Anuma, Head of the Teaching Hospital Division, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, urged cooperation with pertinent parties in order to exchange vital information on the variant and put improved monitoring procedures into place.
“I have been instructed to notify you about a recently discovered XEC COVID-19 variant that was first discovered in Australia and has since spread to 29 other nations worldwide.
Concerns over this variant’s possible effects on public health have been raised by the fact that it has demonstrated a growth advantage over other strains that are currently in circulation, the letter stated.
“Alert systems should be turned on right away in all of our hospitals when a patient exhibits symptoms similar to COVID-19.
“Effective response strategies will depend on timely information sharing among pertinent stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Health.”
In order to stop any possible spread of the variation into Nigeria, the Permanent Secretary emphasised the significance of taking preventive action during this time.
