Tension Arises as Nigeria Confirms New COVID-19 Case
Nigeria has recorded a fresh COVID-19 case in Cross River State, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk, confirmed in Calabar that the patient is a 53-year-old Chinese national working with Lafarge in Akamkpa Local Government Area. He said the man arrived Nigeria on March 17 and later fell ill.
Dr Ayuk explained that the patient was first treated at a state medical facility before being moved to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), where samples were taken and COVID-19 was confirmed after standard protocols were followed. He said, “We are, however, happy to report that he is doing well,” and added, “But we are determined that for every ailment, every disease or outbreak, if it is identified here in the state, there should be no alarm.”
He further stated, “The state will do well in terms of surveillance or containment of an outbreak. Whatever it is, we will do our best to contain it. So, there is no alarm.”
State Epidemiologist, Dr Inyang Ekpenyong, said emergency response has been activated with contact tracing and identification of possible contacts already ongoing.
She noted that the last confirmed case in Cross River was in 2022 and raised concern that the infection may have been contracted locally due to the symptom timeline. She said, “We have also activated the emergency response center and deployed rapid response teams to Akamkpa, where the victim works.”
She added, “There is no way we can stop this disease, but we can stop the disease outbreak,” stressing containment efforts.
The WHO Coordinator in Cross River, Dr Yewande Olatunde, also urged preventive action, saying, “We must explore all preventive measures to protect ourselves,” noting that COVID-19 still remains present.
