Mirian Gom 
CALABAR, Nigeria — The Cross River State Government has confirmed a new case of COVID-19, triggering immediate public health response measures to contain any potential spread.
The State Commissioner for Health, Henry Ayuk, announced the development on Tuesday, revealing that the index case involves a 53-year-old foreign national working in Akamkpa Local Government Area.
According to Ayuk, the patient arrived in Nigeria on March 17 and later developed symptoms before being transferred to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, where tests confirmed the infection.
“We are, however, happy to report that he is doing well,” Ayuk said, adding that all required medical protocols were strictly followed.
He assured residents that the state’s health system has been strengthened to manage infectious disease outbreaks, urging calm while surveillance efforts continue.
“There should be no alarm. We will do our best to contain any outbreak,” he said.
State Epidemiologist Inyang Ekpenyong confirmed that emergency response teams have been deployed, with contact tracing already underway to identify and monitor potential exposures.
She noted that the incubation timeline suggests the infection may have been contracted locally, raising concerns about possible silent transmission.
The World Health Organization Coordinator in the state, Yewande Olatunde, reiterated that COVID-19 remains a global health threat and urged adherence to preventive measures.
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