Contact Tracing Begins in Cross River COVID Outbreak
Health authorities in Cross River State have activated full emergency response measures following laboratory confirmation of a single COVID-19 infection involving a Chinese expatriate, the first officially recorded case in the state in roughly four years.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, in a statement released Tuesday night, confirmed that the patient has been isolated and is receiving care according to national treatment guidelines. “The patient is in stable condition and responding to care,” the NCDC stated.
Providing local context earlier in Calabar, Commissioner for Health Henry Ayuk identified the patient as a 53-year-old Chinese national employed by a firm in Akamkpa Local Government Area. Ayuk explained that the individual arrived in Nigeria approximately one month ago and presented with mild symptoms before admission to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, where diagnostic samples returned a positive result. “The patient is currently receiving care at the state’s designated isolation and treatment centre and is responding well to treatment,” Ayuk said, adding that the government withheld immediate public announcement until full diagnostic verification was completed to curb misinformation.
State Epidemiologist Inyang Ekpenyong clarified the operational definition prompting the swift reaction. “With even a single confirmed case, it qualifies as an outbreak, and that is why we immediately activated the Emergency Operations Centre,” Ekpenyong stated. Rapid response teams have since been deployed to Akamkpa LGA, with contact tracing and line-listing of exposed persons underway within the virus’s two-to-fourteen-day incubation window.
The NCDC noted that coordinated response measures were activated in collaboration with the state Ministry of Health and development partners. “All identified contacts are being followed up appropriately, and there is no evidence at this time of widespread transmission,” the agency added.
Ekpenyong noted that this marks the state’s first documented incident since 2022, attributing the extended period of low visibility to vaccination coverage and a prevalence of mild, unreported cases. Jonah Offor, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, commended the collaborative effort with international bodies including the World Health Organisation.
WHO State Coordinator Olatunde Rebecca emphasized that efforts are ongoing with national authorities to determine the specific viral strain involved. Rebecca also warned against complacency, reiterating that transmission via respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces remains a risk. “Preventive measures such as hand hygiene, use of face masks, and physical distancing remain critical,” she said.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Ekpo Bassey, underscored that investments in outbreak response capacity have enabled early detection and containment in this instance. The NCDC further emphasized that Nigeria’s surveillance architecture remains functional, with the detection of this isolated case serving as evidence of an alert system rather than a signal of widespread danger.