The National Obstetric Fistula Centre NOFC), Abakaliki in Ebonyi State has raised alarm over the outbreak of a new and deadlier Covid variant, known as BA.4 and BA.5 COVID delta.
An Internal memo, signed by Yakubu E.N, Head of Clinical Services and sent to all the staff of the centre, said that the new variant takes less time to go to extremes, sometimes without symptoms.
The memo said that the new variant has no symptoms of cough and fever, but explained that BA.4 and BA.5 COVID delta come with a lot of joint pain, headache, neck and upper back pain, general weakness, loss of appetite and pneumonia.
It said that the symptoms also include sore throat that resembles strep throat and more virulent and with a higher mortality rate.
“It takes less time to go to extremes. Sometimes without symptoms. Be more careful. This strain does not live in the naso-pharyngeal region.
“Now it directly affects the lungs, which means that the “windows” periods of time are shorter.
There have been several patients without fever, without pain, but who report mild chest pneumonia on their X-rays. Nasal swab tests are very often negative for Cavid-19, and there are more and more false negative results from nasopharyngeal tests.
“This means that the virus spreads and spreads directly to the lungs, causing acute respiratory stress caused by viral pneumonia.
“This explains why it has become sharp, more virulent and deadly. Please, be extremely careful.”
As part of precautionary measures, the centre asked the staff and members of the public to avoid crowded places, keep 1.5 distance even in open places, double face masks and wash hands often.
“Please no hugs, it is very dangerous at the moment, as almost everyone is asymptomatic. This wave’ is much more deadly than the first, so we have to be very careful and take every kind of precaution,” the memo said.
