The outbreak of a new COVID-19 variant XBB.1.5 named “Kraken” has induced concerns amongst the Nigerian populace.
These concerns are connected to a pronouncement by the World Health Organization (WHO) which noted that the new variant is the most transmissible sub-variant detected so far.
According to the WHO, the XBB.1.5 variant has already been identified in at least 30 countries including China and South Africa and is now dominant in the United States of America.
WHO’s COVID-19 technical lead, Maria Van Kerkhove,” XBB.1.5 is “the most transmissible sub-variant which has been detected yet.”
Nonetheless, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Wednesday, allayed the fears of Nigerians, disclosing that there are proactive measures being instituted in order to prevent an outbreak.
Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, said that even though the Kraken sub-variant had not been detected in Nigeria, the country was alert
