Categories: Africa

Senegal Detects First Case Of Omicron Variant

File photo: A healthcare worker fills a syringe with Covid-19 vaccine at a community vaccination event. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP)

 

A first case of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has been reported in Senegal, in a visitor who was leaving the country after an international meeting in capital Dakar, a research institute said.

The IRESSEF health body said late Saturday that the 58-year-old patient arrived in Senegal by air from another West African country on November 22.

He had been vaccinated earlier this year with the AstraZeneca and Pfizer shots and had no symptoms by Saturday.

READ ALSO: UK Adds Nigeria To Red List Over Omicron Fears

Although the man has now been quarantined in a medical centre, he stayed at a Dakar hotel and took part in an event with 300 people from different countries on November 24-25.

Senegal has recorded more than 74,000 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began.

Launched in February, the country’s vaccination campaign has made slow progress, with 1.3 million people inoculated out of a total 17 million population.

AFP

Anthonia Orji

Disqus Comments Loading...

Recent Posts

Russian Air Attacks Kill Five In Northeast Ukraine

Ukrainian officials have urged the country's allies to supply more anti-aircraft defence systems, in particular…

24 mins ago

Italian Designer Gaetano Pesce Dies At 84

Pesce is survived by his children, family "and all who adored him".

43 mins ago

JUST IN: Binance Chief In Court Over Alleged Tax Evasion

One of the defendants, Tigran Gambaryan, arrived at the court at 9:15 am on Thursday…

49 mins ago

S.Africa’s Ex-Parliament Speaker Arrested In Graft Probe

On Wednesday, she resigned as speaker and a lawmaker with immediate effect.

1 hour ago

EFCC Arrests Bobrisky For Currency Mutilation

The cross-dresser was arrested in Lagos on Wednesday night for naira abuse and currency mutilation.

2 hours ago

NATO Marks 75 Years In Face Of Ukraine War

Since Russia launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine two years ago, a reinvigorated NATO has…

2 hours ago