A new case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Cross River State, marking the first reported infection in the state since 2022.
The State Commissioner for Health, Henry Ayuk, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing in Calabar. He revealed that the patient is a 53-year-old Chinese national working with Lafarge, who arrived in Nigeria on March 17 and later fell ill.
According to Ayuk, the patient’s condition worsened while receiving care at a state medical facility, prompting his transfer to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. At the hospital, samples were taken and all necessary protocols followed, leading to confirmation of COVID-19.
“We are, however, happy to report that he is doing well,” Ayuk said, assuring residents that the state’s health system is prepared to manage and contain any outbreaks.
He emphasized that while occasional infections may occur, there is no cause for panic, noting that surveillance and response mechanisms have been strengthened to quickly detect and control diseases.
Also speaking, the State Epidemiologist, Inyang Ekpenyong, said the emergency response team had been activated, with contact tracing already underway to identify individuals who may have been exposed.
Ekpenyong noted that the incubation period for the virus is typically between two and 14 days, raising concerns that the infection may have been contracted locally, as the patient began showing symptoms well after his arrival in Nigeria.
She added that rapid response teams have been deployed to Akamkpa Local Government Area, where the patient works, as part of containment efforts.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization’s coordinator in the state, Yewande Olatunde, reiterated that COVID-19 remains a global health concern and urged the public to adhere to preventive measures.
Health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as efforts intensify to prevent further spread of the virus.
