The Cross River State Government has confirmed a fresh case of COVID-19, raising concerns about a possible resurgence of the virus in the state after nearly three years without a recorded infection.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing in Calabar, the state capital.

He revealed that the index case involves a Chinese national working with Lafarge, who arrived in Nigeria on March 17 before falling ill weeks later.

According to Ayuk, the patient’s condition deteriorated at a state medical facility, prompting an emergency transfer to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), where further medical investigations were conducted.

“At UCTH, samples were taken in line with established protocols, and it was subsequently confirmed that he had symptoms consistent with COVID-19,” Ayuk said, adding that the patient is currently responding to treatment.

Despite the development, the commissioner attempted to allay fears, stating that the state’s health system had been strengthened to effectively respond to infectious disease outbreaks.

He noted that the last confirmed COVID-19 case in Cross River was recorded in 2022, stressing that preliminary findings suggest the patient may have contracted the virus within Nigeria.

“The incubation period for COVID-19 ranges between two and 14 days. However, this individual arrived in the country on March 17 and only began showing symptoms on April 10, which exceeds the typical incubation window,” Ayuk explained.

Health authorities have since launched contact tracing efforts to identify individuals who may have been exposed to the patient. The state has also activated its emergency response centre and deployed rapid response teams to Akamkpa Local Government Area, where the patient is based.

“There is no way to completely stop the virus, but we can prevent an outbreak by containing it effectively and ensuring it does not lead to fatalities,” Ayuk added.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Coordinator in Cross River, Dr. Yewande Olatunde, warned that COVID-19 has not been eradicated globally and urged residents to remain vigilant and adhere to public health guidelines.

The latest development signals a renewed call for caution as authorities intensify surveillance to prevent further spread of the virus in the state.