The Federal Ministry of Health has issued a warning to hospitals across Nigeria to prepare for the spread of the XEC COVID-19 variant. The new strain, first detected in Australia, has now reached 29 countries, including the US and the UK.
With over 600 confirmed cases globally, health authorities are concerned due to its increased transmissibility compared to other variants.The ministry’s directive, issued on December 5, calls for heightened vigilance and the activation of alert systems in hospitals to identify COVID-like symptoms. Dr. O.N. Anuma, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, emphasized the need for cooperation between health institutions and the ministry to effectively manage the potential threat.
Despite concerns over the strain’s spread, experts have stated that existing vaccines remain effective in preventing severe illness. The ministry is monitoring the situation closely and urges timely data sharing among stakeholders to mitigate the impact of the variant.
