Cross River State has confirmed a fresh case of COVID-19, marking the first reported infection in the state since 2022.
The state commissioner for health, Henry Ayuk, disclosed the development during a press conference on Tuesday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Ayuk said the index case involves a 53-year-old Chinese national working with Lafarge in Akamkpa Local Government Area. The patient reportedly arrived in Nigeria on March 17 and later developed symptoms.
He explained that the patient’s condition deteriorated while receiving care at a state facility, leading to his transfer to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), where laboratory tests confirmed COVID-19.
Despite the development, the commissioner reassured residents that there is no cause for panic, noting that the state’s health system has been strengthened to handle disease outbreaks.
“We are, however, happy to report that he is doing well,” Ayuk said, adding that all confirmation protocols were strictly followed.
The state epidemiologist, Inyang Ekpenyong, said authorities have activated emergency response measures, including contact tracing and deployment of rapid response teams to Akamkpa to curb any possible spread.
She noted that preliminary investigations suggest the patient may have contracted the virus within Nigeria, as the timeline of symptom onset falls outside the typical incubation period of two to 14 days.
Ekpenyong added that the state’s emergency response centre is fully operational and monitoring the situation closely.
Meanwhile, Yewande Olatunde, the state coordinator of the World Health Organisation (WHO), urged residents to remain vigilant, stressing that COVID-19 is still in circulation globally.
She advised adherence to preventive measures, including hygiene practices and early reporting of symptoms.
