Matilda Omonaiye/
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the Cross River State Government have confirmed a new case of COVID-19 in the state, triggering emergency response measures.
In a statement issued on Tuesday night, the NCDC said the patient had been isolated and was receiving care in line with national treatment guidelines.
The agency confirmed that the individual is in a stable condition and responding to treatment.
The Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Henry Ayuk, disclosed that the case involves a 53-year-old Chinese expatriate working in Akamkpa Local Government Area.
According to him, the patient arrived in Nigeria about a month ago and initially showed mild symptoms before being admitted to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, where tests later confirmed the infection.
He said the patient has since been moved to the state’s designated isolation and treatment centre and is responding well to care.
Ayuk explained that authorities delayed the public announcement until all diagnostic procedures were completed to avoid misinformation, while urging residents to remain calm but vigilant.
Following confirmation of the case, the NCDC said it had activated coordinated response measures with the state Ministry of Health and development partners.
These include contact tracing, enhanced surveillance, and strengthened infection prevention and control measures.
Health officials confirmed that all identified contacts are being closely monitored and, so far, there is no evidence of wider transmission.
The State Epidemiologist, Inyang Ekpenyong, said the situation qualifies as an outbreak under public health guidelines, noting that even a single confirmed case is sufficient to trigger emergency protocols.
She added that the Emergency Operations Centre has been activated, with rapid response teams deployed to Akamkpa to trace contacts and monitor possible exposures within the virus’s incubation period.
Authorities also noted that this is the first officially recorded COVID-19 case in Cross River since 2022, attributing the low number of reported infections in recent years to vaccination efforts and the likelihood of mild or unreported cases.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Jonah Offor, commended the collaboration between the state government and partners, including the World Health Organisation.
The WHO State Coordinator, Olatunde Rebecca, emphasised the need for continued vigilance, warning against misinformation and urging residents to maintain preventive measures such as hand hygiene, use of face masks where necessary, and physical distancing.
She added that efforts are ongoing to determine the specific variant involved.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Ekpo Bassey, said the state’s improved response capacity has enabled early detection and swift containment of the case.
The NCDC reiterated that Nigeria’s disease surveillance systems remain active and effective, noting that the detection reflects the system’s responsiveness rather than a widespread outbreak.
Nigeria recorded its first COVID-19 case in February 2020. While infections have declined significantly since the peak of the pandemic, health experts say occasional cases remain likely due to international travel and continued global circulation of the virus.
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