Uganda closed its borders in March to everyone except cargo planes and truck drivers. (Photo by Sally Hayden/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Uganda’s government has confirmed that the country has registered COVID-19 cases with the South African strain B1 351 and Nigerian variant B.1.525.
The two variants are said to be more contagious than the usual virus.
As reported by the Uganda Daily Monitor, Prof Pontiano Kaleebu, executive director of Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), said a few people have been reported with the strains.
Asked whether these strains will have an effect on the COVID-19 vaccine, Prof Kaleebu said they will continue watching and tracking.
Uganda rolled out its vaccination campaign against Covid-19 and by March 23, at least 32,526 people had been vaccinated, according to Ministry of Health data.
This comes a month after the country registered a different strain, A3, which was first seen in some infected people in northern Uganda.
However, this strain has also been reported in other countries in Europe, USA, and Rwanda.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), Variant 501Y.V2 also known as B1.351, was first identified in South Africa and has now been detected in at least eight African countries.
Uganda has thus far recorded 40,749 coronavirus cases and 334 deaths.
(With input from the Daily Monitor)
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