A new COVID-19 variant known as SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, also known as lineage B.1.617.2 has been discovered in Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced.
The NCDC via its Head of Communications, Dr Yahya Disu, on Thursday in a statement said the variant was detected in a traveller to Nigeria, following the routine travel test required of all international travellers and genomic sequencing at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory, Abuja.
The deadly Delta variant is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a variant of concern, given its increased transmissibility.
The variant has been detected in over 90 countries and is expected to spread to more countries, according to the NCDC.
