COVID-19 response measures were yesterday activated in Cross River State by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) following the report of a case.
It involves a Chinese national, 53, an expatriate employee of a cement company in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State.
He arrived in Nigeria via Lagos on March 17 and travelled to Cross River where the symptoms were detected.
The NCDC confirmed the case on Tuesday and said response measures had been activated.
In a statement, NCDC’s Director-General Dr. Jide Idris, said: “NCDC is aware of recent media reports regarding a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Cross River State.
“This is the only confirmed case that has been isolated, and is currently being managed in line with national treatment guidelines.
“The patient is in stable condition and responding to care”.
Idris added that following confirmation of the case, the Cross River State Ministry of Health, in coordination with the NCDC and support from partners, has activated response measures, including contact tracing, surveillance and infection prevention and control.
“All identified contacts are being followed up appropriately, and there is no evidence at this time of widespread transmission.
“We continue to maintain routine surveillance for COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. The detection of this case reflects that these systems remain functional and responsive”.
He urged members of the public to maintain good hand and respiratory hygiene, stay home and seek care if unwell, and follow updates from official public health authorities.
Idris said the NCDC would continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
Earlier, the Cross River State Government confirmed the case and activated emergency response measures, assuring residents that the situation is under control.
Commissioner for Health, Henry Egbe Ayuk, said in Calabar that the patient had mild symptoms and was referred to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), where samples were taken and the infection confirmed.
“He works with Lafarge at Akamkpa Local Government, and suddenly he had symptoms. He was taken to their clinic, they couldn’t handle it so he has been taken to The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
“By the weekend, samples that were collected and sent to Abuja were confirmed as positive, of Covid-19. Since then he has been responding to treatment at our isolation center in Calabar, ‘’Ayuk said.
He explained that the state delayed public disclosure until diagnostic procedures were completed to avoid misinformation, adding that surveillance systems remain active.
“We have activated all necessary procedures, including contact tracing and isolation, to prevent further spread,” he said.
The State Epidemiologist, Inyang Ekpenyong, said the case is the first officially recorded in the state since 2022, noting that even a single confirmed infection qualifies as an outbreak.
“With even one case, we activated the Emergency Operations Centre. Rapid response teams have been deployed, and contact tracing is ongoing,” she said.
Ekpenyong added that identified contacts are being monitored daily within the virus’s incubation period of two to 14 days, noting that some infections may go undetected due to mild symptoms or similarities with other common illnesses.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Jonah Offor, commended coordination between the state and partners, including the World Health Organisation.
Also, the World Health Organisation (WHO) State Coordinator, Olatunde Rebecca, warned against misinformation and stressed the need for sustained surveillance.
She said COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces, urging residents to maintain preventive measures such as hand hygiene, use of face masks where necessary, and physical distancing.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, said the state had strengthened its outbreak response capacity to enable early detection and swift intervention.
Health authorities advised residents to remain calm, adhere to safety guidelines, and report symptoms promptly to health facilities, as monitoring continues.
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