Cross River State has confirmed a new COVID-19 case, it’s first official infection in years.
Health Commissioner Dr. Henry Ayuk announced the development Tuesday during a briefing in Calabar. The patient is a 53-year-old Chinese national employed by Lafarge who entered Nigeria on March 17 and later became ill.
Ayuk said the man’s health worsened at a local facility before he was moved to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. Samples collected there confirmed the virus. He added that the patient is now responding well to care.
The commissioner stressed that the state’s disease response system has been reinforced to detect and handle outbreaks. “Although there have been isolated and silent infections from time to time, we are fully prepared to manage any outbreak. There is no cause for alarm,” he said.
Officials waited several days before going public to complete verification and follow testing protocols.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Inyang Ekpenyong said the Emergency Response Unit has been activated.
According to her, rapid response teams are in Akamkpa LGA, where the patient works, carrying out contact tracing and listing of exposed persons.
She noted that the onset of symptoms suggests local transmission, as they appeared long after the 2–14 day incubation window post-arrival.
“We may not be able to completely stop the disease, but we can prevent an outbreak. Our priority is to contain it and ensure it does not lead to fatalities,” Ekpenyong said.
WHO State Coordinator Dr. Yewande Olatunde reminded residents that COVID-19 remains a global concern and urged continued vigilance and adherence to basic safety measures to curb spread.
Source/ASHENEWS
