Current Issue on Omicron COVID-19 Variants

Abstract

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) according to the Nigeria Center for Disease Prevention and Control (NCDC) is a disease contracted from animals (zoonotic disease). Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS COV-2) is the virus responsible for COVID-19. COVID-19 symptoms may develop within 14 days after infection with the virus and includes fever, headache, cough, difficulties with breathing, loss of smell and taste, and tiredness. In Africa, a new strain of COVID-19 was identified on the 24th of November, 2021 in South Africa and tagged B.1.1.529, it was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO), which later named it Omicron. In December, 2021, the first cases of the Omicron variant were confirmed in Nigeria and has recorded up 45 cases by 20th of the same month. It was reported that this three cases were identified in persons who arrived from South Africa the previous week. The Omicron variant is the dominant, and fast spreading variant of SARS Cov-2 across the world, and seven lineages of the variant has been identified so far since the naming of the strain and they include the Omicron B.1.1.529, BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4 and BA.5 lineages. Laboratory methods for the diagnosis of Omicron sub-variants is the same as those for the general testing of COVID-19 which includes polymerase chain reaction, rapid tests, and additional tests to distinguish between the sub-variants. Patients with the earlier strains of severe COVID-19 are known to respond well to corticosteroids like dexamethasone and IL6 receptor blockers like tocilizumab (Actemra). All preventive measures observed for general SARS-CoV-2 prevention are applicable for Omicron variants prevention and they include vaccination, staying at home, donning a mask in public, avoidance of congested places, keeping social distancing, ventilating indoor spaces, controlling potential exposure durations, washing hands frequently and for at least 20 seconds, practicing good hygiene, and avoiding touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands are all preventative measures to lessen the likelihood of Omicron variant infection. All the measures employed in the prevention of COVID-19 outbreak proved to be effective against the Omicron variant also. As efforts continue towards containing the spread and minimizing the emergence of more variants, it becomes necessary to update the public on the current happening regarding the Omicron variant.