Fiji has reported its first cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, but the Pacific nation said it appeared to have been contained at the border and not reached the community.
The country's health department said in an update the variant was detected in two Fijian nationals who arrived from Nigeria via Hong Kong on 25 November.
It said the pair were both fully vaccinated and had been in a border quarantine facility since their arrival because Nigeria was considered a high-risk "red zone" country.
"The indications are that we have averted community transmission at this time," Fiji health secretary James Fong said in a statement.
Two weeks after first being identified in South Africa, Omicron has now been found in about 40 countries around the world.
COVID-19 infections in Fiji have dropped as the vaccination rate climbs over 90 per cent. Source: Supplied
Fiji managed to eliminate COVID-19 for 12 months before a devastating second wave of the Delta variant earlier this year caused almost 700 deaths in the nation of one million.
But infections have dropped as the vaccination rate climbs over 90 per cent, with 10 new cases and no deaths reported on Monday.
Fiji's Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum told SBS News the country was well-prepared to confront any challenges that omicron may bring.
"I think a lot of it comes down to the fact that we have the bulk of the population vaccinated," Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.
"I think there is still very good, stringent messages put in place, and I think with everybody's good will and people adhering to that and the testing, we will be able to get over this phase. "
This week Fiji allowed the return of international tourists from selected "travel partner" countries, including some where Omicron is present.
Mr Fong said finding the variant in border quarantine was "not unexpected, given how quickly it has spread worldwide".
With additional reporting by Abbie O'Brien.
