JUST IN: Indian Coronavirus Strain Found In Nigeria

The Coronavirus strain, which is currently disturbing India, has been found in Nigeria, Onyxnews gathered.

Onyxnews reports that the strain was detected by the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases in the Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State almost three weeks ago and has been communicated to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Recall that the Federal Government on Monday restricted gatherings at worship centres and banned nightclubs following reports that the devastating COVID-19 strain in South Africa had spread to 23 other countries.

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Onyxnews gathered on Tuesday that the detection of the Indian strain in Nigeria added to the new law issued by the Federal Government.

The detection had been listed on GISAID, a global science initiative that provided open access to genomic data of influenza viruses.

A notification dated April 25, 2021, sent by Professor Christian Hapi of the ACEGID to the NCDC read in part, “We have found five sequences of the India B.1.617 in the country, specifically in Edo and Osun states.”

However, the subsequent observations showed that so far, the strain had not shown the same kind of viciousness displayed in India where 400,000 persons were infected daily and 157 died per hour.

Hapi said the information was sent to the NCDC two weeks ago, a report by PUNCH confirmed.

The professor clarified that the strain detected in Nigeria is the same with India’s, but different in characteristics.

He said strain in India has two more mutations than the one identified in Nigeria which makes the one in India more aggressive.

“What we have is the B1.617 from India. That is the variant they had but that variant has now evolved beyond the mutation that we identified.

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“The one India evolved by two mutations. It is the same strain with India but their own now has a couple of mutations. So, it is the same as what we detected but also different in characteristics,” Professor Hapi explained.