The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control says it is working closely with authorities in Cross River following the confirmation of a COVID-19 case.

NCDC’s director-general, Jide Idris, said on Tuesday in Abuja that the agency had activated response mechanisms to contain the situation.

The Cross River Ministry of Health confirmed a case involving a 53-year-old foreign national who developed symptoms weeks after arriving in Nigeria and later tested positive at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

Health commissioner Henry Ayuk said the patient had been admitted and  responding to treatment, while samples were analysed to guide further clinical management.

“The NCDC, in collaboration with the state government and partners, have intensified contact tracing, surveillance, and infection prevention and control measures. All identified contacts are being followed up appropriately, and there is no evidence at this time of widespread transmission,” he said.

Mr Ayuk added that the detection of the case demonstrated that Nigeria’s surveillance and response systems remained functional and responsive. 

He advised members of the public to maintain good hand and respiratory hygiene, stay home and seek care when unwell, and follow updates from official public health authorities.

Mr Ayuk reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to monitoring the situation and providing updates as necessary, noting that emergency response teams had been deployed to support containment efforts.

Mr Idris also urged residents to remain calm, be vigilant and adhere to preventive measures, including regular handwashing, respiratory hygiene, and prompt reporting of symptoms.

Nigeria recorded its first case of COVID-19 in February 2020, triggering a nationwide public health response coordinated by the NCDC and the Federal Ministry of Health.

At the height of the pandemic, multiple waves driven by variants such as Delta and Omicron strained the health system which led to the establishment of isolation centres and emergency operations nationwide.

Although reported cases have declined significantly in recent years, public health experts warn that the virus has not been eradicated and may continue to circulate at low levels globally.

Experts noted that reduced testing and reporting in many countries have made it more difficult to track transmission trends, thereby increasing the risk of undetected outbreaks.

Experts restated the need for sustained surveillance, strengthened preparedness, and rapid response capacity to manage sporadic cases and prevent wider transmission.

Meanwhile, as of April 13, 2024, the Worldometer Coronavirus Tracker is no longer being updated due to challenges in obtaining statistically valid global totals, as many countries have stopped routine reporting.

According to historical data from the platform, Nigeria recorded 267,188 confirmed cases, 3,155 deaths, and 259,953 recoveries. 

(NAN)