Cross River Confirms COVID-19 Case as Health Authorities Activate Emergency Response

Cross River Confirms COVID-19 Case as Health Authorities Activate Emergency Response

The Cross River State Government has confirmed a fresh case of COVID-19, marking a renewed alert for health surveillance in the state after several years without a recorded infection.

The development was announced on Tuesday in Calabar by the Commissioner for Health, Henry Ayuk, who said the patient is a 53-year-old Chinese national working with Lafarge in Akamkpa Local Government Area.

Ayuk explained that the patient arrived Nigeria on March 17 and later fell ill, with his condition initially managed at a health facility before being referred to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) for further treatment.

“At the teaching hospital, samples were taken and all necessary protocols were followed, after which COVID-19 was confirmed,” the commissioner said. “We are, however, happy to report that he is doing well.”

He added that the state Ministry of Health has been strengthened to respond swiftly to any disease outbreak, stressing that surveillance and containment systems remain active across the state.

“We are determined that for every disease or outbreak identified in Cross River State, there should be no cause for alarm,” Ayuk said. “Whatever it is, we will do our best to contain it.”

According to him, the confirmation followed careful verification procedures before the announcement was made public.

The State Epidemiologist, Inyang Ekpenyong, said the state had activated its emergency response system, with contact tracing already underway to identify persons who may have interacted with the patient.

She noted that the last recorded COVID-19 case in Cross River was in 2022, adding that investigations suggest the patient may have contracted the virus after arriving in Nigeria.

“The incubation period is usually between two and 14 days, but in this case the patient developed symptoms after about 24 days,” she said. “We are conducting a full line listing of contacts as part of containment efforts.”

Ekpenyong added that rapid response teams have been deployed to Akamkpa, where the patient works, while the state emergency operations centre has been reactivated.

“There is no way we can completely stop the disease, but we can prevent an outbreak through early containment and proper management,” she said.

Also speaking, the World Health Organisation Coordinator in Cross River, Yewande Olatunde, noted that COVID-19 remains a circulating global health threat and urged residents to maintain preventive measures.

“We must continue to protect ourselves through vigilance and adherence to safety practices,” she said.

Health authorities assured residents that there is no cause for panic, while urging continued cooperation as contact tracing and monitoring efforts intensify across affected areas. (NAN)