Omicron patients isolated
The Minister for Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng has revealed that seven travelers have been isolated after testing positive for Omicron covid19 variant.
While briefly addressing the media on Tuesday, Aceng confirmed that the Uganda Virus Institute registered seven patients, five from Nigeria and two South Africans. She says the patients are currently in a stable state with some presenting mild symptoms of the disease.
“Yesterday we received information from the lab that seven people tested positive for the Omicron virus,they have been isolated,we are monitoring them,they are not severely ill so there is nothing to worry about.”she said
Aceng says it is no surprise that the virus has entered the country considering .She says the virus could have spread across the globe before it was detected.
“Over 38 countries have reported presence of the Omicron virus,meaning it is highly transmissible ,even in South Africa it seems like the infection doesn’t seem to be severe,it is mostly mild infection and among the vaccinated people it is not deadly,” Aceng noted
Omicron patients isolated
Aceng has advised the public to not to shun covid 19 vaccination and instead turn up in large numbers at health centers to minimize effects of the disease on the public.
“This stresses further the importance of Covid 19 vaccination, we have adequate vaccines ,it is free,safe and efficacious,go and get vaccinated.Especially the people of Acholi Sub region because it is an exit route to South Sudan and vaccination rate is very low.“she said
Omicron was first detected in South Africa on November,24, the Country has since seen a spike in COVID-19 infections since then.
The variant also spread to over seven Southern Africa countries including Zimbabwe,Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Malawi and Esthawi.
The Omicron variant is feared to be more virulent and infectious due to the 32 mutations in its spike protein.
Omicron variant also known as Nomenclature is a variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
On 26 November 2021, the World Health Organisation designated it as a variant of concern and named it after Omicron, the fifteenth letter in the Greek alphabet.
Compiled by Rashidah Nakaayi
