CALABAR — The Cross River State Government has confirmed a fresh case of COVID-19, raising renewed public health concerns four years after the state’s last recorded infection.
Addressing journalists in Calabar on Tuesday, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, disclosed that the case involves a 53-year-old Chinese national employed by Lafarge Cement in Akamkpa Local Government Area.
According to Ayuk, the patient arrived Nigeria on March 17, 2026, but only began showing symptoms weeks later, suggesting the possibility of local transmission.
“It was subsequently confirmed that he had symptoms of COVID-19. We are, however, happy to report that he is doing well,” Ayuk said.
He explained that the patient initially fell ill and was treated at a state facility before being transferred to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, where samples were taken and COVID-19 protocols activated.
The commissioner noted that the delayed onset of symptoms, beyond the virus’s typical incubation period points to likely exposure within Nigeria.
“For him to have been diagnosed after the incubation period suggests he may have contracted the disease here,” Ayuk stated, urging residents to remain vigilant and report symptoms such as persistent cough, fever, or night sweats.
He reassured the public of the state’s readiness to manage any outbreak, emphasizing strengthened surveillance systems.
“If any disease is identified here, there should be no alarm. We will do our best to contain it,” he said.
Also speaking, the World Health Organization’s state representative, Dr. Rebeca Olatunde, appealed for calm, noting that containment measures are already in place.
“We must explore all preventive measures to protect ourselves and ensure everyone is safe,” she said, adding that contact tracing and monitoring of close contacts have been completed.
On the possibility of a lockdown, Olatunde indicated that current measures—including contact tracing and treatment—are sufficient, with the patient responding positively.
Meanwhile, the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Inyang Ekpenyong, confirmed that the emergency response system has been activated, with rapid response teams deployed to Akamkpa.
“The incubation period is usually between two to 14 days, but this case exceeds that window, reinforcing the likelihood of local transmission,” Ekpenyong explained.
He added that health officials are compiling a list of all potential contacts as part of containment efforts.
“There is no way we can stop the disease entirely, but we can stop an outbreak. It will be wrong not to act to ensure people do not die,” he said.
Authorities have advised residents to maintain hygiene practices, including regular handwashing, use of sanitizers, and limiting physical contact, as efforts continue to prevent further spread.
