After a four-year hiatus, COVID-19 has resurfaced in Cross River State.
Health officials confirmed on Tuesday that a 53-year-old Chinese national working in Akamkpa tested positive for the virus—the first reported case in Nigeria since 2022.
The patient, who arrived in Nigeria in mid-March, is currently receiving care at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) after his condition deteriorated at a local facility.
Authorities have moved to calm public fears, stating that the case has been successfully contained and all safety protocols are in place.
“The protocols have been followed and it has been confirmed. When this case was reported about three or four days ago, we ensured that all processes for confirming COVID-19 were duly followed. We are happy to report that he is doing well,” he said.
State Epidemiologist, Inyang Ekpenyong, said the emergency response system has been activated, with rapid response teams deployed to Akamkpa for contact tracing and containment measures.
Investigations indicate the virus may have been contracted locally, as the patient developed symptoms on April 10—well beyond the standard 14-day incubation period after arrival.
Although Cross River last recorded a COVID-19 case in 2022, the Ministry of Health says its surveillance and response systems have been strengthened to manage possible outbreaks.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) coordinator in the state, Yewande Olatunde, urged residents to remain vigilant, noting that the virus is still in circulation and preventive measures remain important.
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