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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to take measures to check the outbreak of the XEC COVID-19 variant in the country.
Consequently, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and other relevant agencies to intensify surveillance at all international borders and ports of entry into the country.
It also implored the ministry to ensure the provision of “thermal machines, infrared thermometers for temperature screening, and deployment of personnel to conduct the screening and quarantine services on all inbound passengers into the country.”
Furthermore, the parliament urged the ministry and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to sensitise the public on the XEC variant.
Also, it urged all health “authorities to activate heightened alert systems in monitoring and consequently reporting any suspected cases.”
This was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Unyime Idem on the need to intensify measures “against the XEC COVID-19 variant, to avoid another wave of deadly coronavirus in Nigeria.”
Idem, in the motion, informed the House that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently issued a global alert regarding a new COVID-19 variant, XEC, with similar symptoms to the former strain.
“The XEC variant, a hybrid strain of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron, has been detected in several countries worldwide, including those with high vaccination rates.
“As of September 24, 2024, the WHO designated the XEC as a variant under monitoring, and initial experimental data suggests that this COVID variant exhibited increased infectiousness and unique changes that may contribute to relatively higher immune evasion.
“The XEC COVID-19 variant was first detected in May, 2024, and has reportedly spread across 43 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Denmark, infecting more than 600 people. The XEC variant is expected to continue spreading globally, with potential increase in cases during the winter season. The recent detection of an index case in Botswana, involving a hospitalised European traveller, raises concerns about the potential spread of the variant across the continent. Furthermore, the limited testing and sequencing capabilities in Africa make it challenging to determine the extent of the variant’s spread, leaving Nigeria vulnerable to a potential outbreak.”
