Cross River State has reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 since 2022, fuelling concerns about potential community transmission in the state.
The patient is a 53-year-old Chinese national employed in Akamkpa Local Government Area who arrived from China on 17 March and developed symptoms on 10 April.
Health officials say the man is responding well to treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, and contact tracing is underway to identify anyone who may have been exposed.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Henry Ayuk told reporters that authorities have “been careful to confirm” the case, following all standard COVID-19 testing protocols. The state emergency response unit has been activated in response.
The extended incubation period—24 days between arrival and symptom onset, well beyond the typical two to 14-day window—has raised questions about where the virus was contracted.
“It is well beyond the 14 days incubation period,” noted Dr Inyang Ekpenyong, the state’s epidemiologist, suggesting the patient may have acquired the infection locally rather than importing it from abroad.
Rapid response teams have been deployed to Akamkpa, where the patient works, as part of containment efforts. Health authorities stress that while COVID-19 cannot be entirely eliminated, outbreak management is critical to prevent deaths and spread.
The World Health Organisation’s representative in the state, Dr Yewande Olatunde, advised residents to adopt preventive measures.
For Advert, Event Coverage/Press Conference Invite, Story/Article & Other Media Services
Contact Us On WhatsApp
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBu3PYH5JLpDP9NJh0A
Send Email To: lagoseyemedia@gmail.com,
08038328333, 08066395908
About The Author
