Janet Ogundepo
As part of measures to prevent the possible spread of the newly detected XEC COVID-19 variant, virologists and epidemiologists have called on the Federal Government to reintroduce safety protocols such as regular hand washing, social distancing, and wearing of face masks in public places.
They further urged Nigerians to maintain proper respiratory hygiene when they sneeze or cough and to report cases of respiratory distress to the hospital to ensure proper testing and treatment.
In exclusive interviews with PUNCH Healthwise, the seasoned experts and researchers also advised the elderly, persons with chronic illnesses including hypertension and diabetes and persons with suppressed immunity to adhere to public health and social measures to avoid exposure to the virus.
According to the World Health Organisation, public health and social measures refer to non-pharmaceutical interventions implemented by individuals, communities and governments to protect the health and well-being of communities affected by health emergencies.
It adds that PHSM aims to reduce the risk and scale of transmission of infectious diseases by reducing transmission-relevant exposures and/or making them safer.
The experts called for increased vigilance, and public information about the variant and urged the government to provide more facilities for testing.
Last week, the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, alerted health authorities to the newly detected XEC COVID-19 variant that was rapidly spreading worldwide.
PUNCH Healthwise reports that the XEC is the latest in a long list of past and current COVID variants being monitored as the COVID-19 virus naturally evolves.
The XEC strain, which was first identified in Australia, has now been confirmed in 29 countries.
Also, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday allayed fears over the newly detected COVID-19 XEC variant reportedly in circulation in Australia.
The NCDC stated that the National COVID-19 Technical Working Group would continue to monitor and conduct analyses of surveillance data both internationally and across the country to guide public health response activities.
The agency explained that there were many variants of SARS-COVID-2 being monitored globally, adding that the XEC was a subvariant of JN.1 and has been designated as the Variant Under Monitoring.
It added that the XEC was “watched for potential concerns and not considered to pose a significant risk, and not yet meet the criteria for designation as Variant Of Interest.”
Speaking with PUNCH Healthwise, a Professor of Medical Virology/Microbiology in the College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Marycelin Baba, stated that since the new strain, like the COVID-19 virus, was an airborne disease, the government was wrong to have concluded that there was no strain in the country.
She emphasised that the government should instead encourage testing of persons with respiratory illnesses and suspected COVID cases.
Baba added, “For the new strain, what has been said about its virulent? COVID-19 is a RNA virus and its characteristic is that as it moves from one person to the other, it mutates. It is this mutation that gives birth to these different strains. Once they mutate, it’s better to know what the characteristics are.
“Remember that there was a time when we had the Omicron and it was stated that they all had increased infectivity compared to the parent one. That means they had an increased infectivity rate and the rate at which they attacked people was higher than the original.
“So, this new strain, what is their characteristic in terms of virulent and host specificity and infectivity? We need to know what is the characteristics and the mortality rate of those infected with this new strain. These are the things that it’s only sequencing results that can give us those answers. And has any lab in Nigeria sequenced such? No.”
The virologist, who coordinated laboratory testing for COVID-19, further asserted that to prevent the spread of the virus, there was a need to return to the COVID protocols such as handwashing, social distancing and wearing of masks in public places.
“The introduction of masks, maintaining social distance, isolating cases, and enhancing testing for COVID. But will the government go back to producing testing kits for different laboratories? How many people would afford the kits now because they are very expensive? Without testing, how do you know whether we have or not?” she questioned.
Also, a Medical Virologist at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Professor Sunday Omilabu, stated that since the virus was an airborne pathogen, the detection of a case in the country would increase fear of possible spread.
He added, “The new variant is dangerous to all of us as our immunity will be too weak to fight the virus, being a new entrant.”
The researcher on Molecular Viral Epidemiology warned that the elderly, children and people with co-morbidities were more vulnerable to the new strain.
The don called on the government to heighten the level of awareness about the new variant and put measures in place to prevent its spread.
A Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Olufunmilayo Fawole, urged the government to provide public education and information about the prevention of the virus strain and to support public health structures, health facilities and laboratories to ensure they can respond adequately.
The don stated that although the new strain was designated as a variant under monitoring and was not considered a significant risk, there was a need for the implementation of simple precautionary measures.
She further noted that there was no need to return to the strict COVID-19 protocols during the pandemic, however noting that there were benefits in adhering to simple safety measures.
“Things like washing our hands regularly, maintaining respiratory hygiene and etiquette when we cough and sneeze and using hand sanitiser. If there are symptoms of COVID-19 or respiratory tract infection, we use the mask. Physical distancing, keeping our rooms well-ventilated and avoiding crowds is also advisable,” Fawole said.
She urged individuals with respiratory distress to go for testing to ensure their status was known.
“Also, we should get vaccinated. Many people shied away from the vaccine when the pandemic was here. This is another time to take the vaccine or receive a booster based on recommendation. These public health measures and simple measures should be implemented but not as strict as during the pandemic,” the epidemiologist asserted.
Fawole further assured, “This new variant, even though it can be transmitted easily compared to the other variant, does not have increased severity. When it affects individuals, the severity of the infection is much less than with the previous variant that was experienced during the pandemic.”
The public health expert also stated that the new variant did not imply that there would be more deaths, rather it meant that the country’s alert system must be heightened to take action.
The epidemiologist noted that the elderly, people with chronic illnesses and persons with suppressed and compromised immune systems were vulnerable to the infection, noting that such persons should adhere to the preventive measures.
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