The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has alerted the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors about the new COVID-19 XEC variant, which has been reported in Australia and 22 other countries.
The ministry has directed the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors to “activate alert systems throughout all hospitals for a high index of suspicion in patients with COVID-like symptoms.”
This announcement came as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reiterated on Wednesday that filling health declaration forms remains mandatory for Nigeria-bound passengers.
Dr. O.N. Anuma, the Head of the Teaching Hospitals Division, Department of Hospital Services of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, issued a letter dated December 5 to the Chairman of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors, warning that the new COVID-19 variant has a growth advantage over other strains.
The ministry has urged the committee to work with all relevant stakeholders to share vital data about the strain and implement enhanced monitoring protocols.
In the letter, Anuma wrote: “I am directed to inform you of a newly detected XEC COVID-19 variant which has been reported in Australia and has already spread to 29 countries globally. You may wish to know that this variant has shown a growth advantage over other circulating strains, raising concerns about its potential impact on public health.
“Alert systems should be immediately activated throughout our hospitals for a high index of suspicion in patients with COVID-like symptoms.
“We request your committee to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to share critical data regarding this strain and implement enhanced monitoring protocols.”
Furthermore, Dr. John Oladejo, the Director of Special Duties at the NCDC, told one of our correspondents on Wednesday that health declaration remains mandatory for incoming passengers.
“They are filling the form; this is a strategy to know if they have any symptoms relating to SARs,” Oladejo explained. He clarified that the form is intended to help the agency determine if incoming passengers have symptoms associated with COVID-19.
Over the weekend, the NCDC addressed concerns over the newly detected COVID-19 XEC variant, which is reportedly circulating in Australia and 32 other countries. The NCDC assured the public that the National COVID-19 Technical Working Group is closely monitoring and analyzing both international and national surveillance data to guide public health responses.
In line with emergency preparedness and response strategies, the NCDC continues to update its approaches to ensure a quick and effective response. A dynamic risk assessment and readiness assessment are being organized to help in planning appropriate actions.
The health declaration form is part of the government’s efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, monitor potential imports of infectious diseases, and control disease outbreaks, thereby protecting the health of all Nigerians.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 180,907 cases of COVID-19 and 2,665 deaths were reported globally in the last 28 days, as of November 24, 2024.
