A fresh case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Nigeria, with health authorities reporting an infection in Cross River State.
The state Commissioner for Health, Henry Ayuk, announced the case on Tuesday in Calabar, saying it involved a 53-year-old Chinese national who works in Akamkpa Local Government Area.
Ayuk said the patient arrived in Nigeria on March 17 and later developed symptoms before being admitted to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
“At the UCTH, samples were taken and all protocols were followed, and it was confirmed that he has COVID-19,” Ayuk said. “We are, however, happy to report that he is doing well.”
He added that the state government had strengthened its disease surveillance system to respond to any outbreak, urging residents not to panic.
“There is no cause for alarm. The state is well positioned in terms of surveillance and containment,” he said.
State Epidemiologist Inyang Ekpenyong said the emergency response system had been activated, with contact tracing already underway.
“We are conducting line listing of those he may have come in contact with as part of containment efforts,” she said.
Ekpenyong noted that while the last confirmed COVID-19 case in Cross River State was recorded in 2022, the new case raised concerns about possible local exposure, given the timeline of symptoms.
She said rapid response teams had been deployed to Akamkpa, where the patient works, to track and contain any potential spread.
“We have activated the emergency response centre. There is no way we can stop this disease, but we can prevent an outbreak,” she said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Cross River, World Health Organization official Yewande Olatunde, urged continued vigilance.
“The disease is still around. We must continue to observe preventive measures to protect ourselves,” she said.
