Sanya AgunbiadeNigeria has just published the first genome sequence of SARS-CoV-2 from Africa, derived from the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
The release of the genome sequence SARS-CoV-2 was a collaborative effort of The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the African Centre of Excellence for the Genomics of Infectious Disease (ACEGID) at Redeemer’s University, Ede, Nigeria (RUN), the Centre for Human Virology and Genomics (CHVG), Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), the Centre for Human and Zoonotic Virology (CHAZVY), College of Medicine University of Lagos/ Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), the Lagos State Ministry of Health Bio-Safety Level 3 (BSL-3) Bio-Bank facility and partners.
Nigeria has published the first African SARS-CoV-2 genome sequence, from the #COVID19 case in Nigeria
This was carried out in collaboration, by:@nimrnigeria@acegid_lab@LUTHofficial
With coordination by:@LSMOH@NCDCgov@WHONigeria
https://t.co/iytsWoxRzb— NCDC (@NCDCgov) March 6, 2020
The Director-General of the United Nations health agency, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, recognised the government’s effort in a tweet on Saturday.
Thank you @NCDCgov & the Government of #Nigeria for the swift & transparent way you have shared the #COVID19 sequence from the country's first case. This a true act of solidarity and an important step in stopping the #coronavirus from spreading further. https://t.co/6fv15oMDTm
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 7, 2020
On the 27th of February 2020, Nigeria confirmed its first case of COVID-19 at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.
The case was diagnosed by the Centre for Human and Zoonotic Virology (CHAZVY), College of Medicine University of Lagos/Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), part of the Laboratory Network of the NCDC.
On the 1st of March 2020, a clinical specimen, specifically, a sputum specimen resuspended in 500µL of viral transport medium (VTM), was sent to ACEGID, Redeemer’s University, Nigeria, and Centre for Human Virology and Genomics, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research for sequencing and molecular characterization.
This report presents the first full genome sequence of SARS-CoV-2 from Africa to be released, with genomic data generated and assembled, and phylogenetic analysis performed by ACEGID and NIMR scientists.
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