Virologist urges researchers to probe mutating coronavirus spread

A Virologist, Dr Olubusuyi Adewumi, has called on indigenous researchers to probe into the fast mutating new Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) to provide insight into how to contain its spread in Nigeria.

Adewumi, a Senior Lecturer at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ibadan.

NAN reports that the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which originated in Wuhan, China, is causing the COVID-19 disease.

He said that the strain or variant of the new Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) might be different from the one currently ravaging in the western population.

The virologist said local research into the virus would help to understand how to contain the virus and reduce the death rate in the country.

“The key lessons for this pandemic response is not only to act fast but act locally.

“Though, we have cases similar to COVID-19 here; there is a need to confirm that we are dealing with the same strain of the virus.

“The virus (SARS-CoV-2) is an RNA virus, hence prone to mutations that eventually results in variants.

“In fact, it has been shown in a study recently that infected individuals within Wuhan had variants of the virus in their bodies.

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“Variance in death rates here could mean we have a different variant or strain of the virus circulating here.

“We are learning more about the virus daily, the reason we need to do more research here, rather than take everything from the developed world hook line and sinker.

“Local research into the virus will also enable us to contribute to the global efforts aimed at combating the pandemic,” he said.

Adewumi also said there was a need to improve on the infectious disease surveillance system.

He said that a rapid increase in the number of Coronavirus cases was due to poor contact tracing and monitoring.

According to him, exposure to high temperature will only destroy the virus outside of a host.

“Warm climate or heat will only affect the virus, while outside susceptible host.

“So, the virus gets inactivated faster because of the dry and hot weather only when outside the host. Once in the host, the weather has little effect on it,” he said.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, as at 11.45 p.m on May 4, confirmed cases of COVID- 19 stands at 2802, discharged 417, with 93 deaths.

(NAN)

 

 

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