NIGERIA’S Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reassured the public that there is no indication of widespread transmission following the confirmation of a new COVID-19 case in Cross River State.
In a statement issued by its Director-General, Jide Idris, the agency said all identified contacts linked to the case are being properly monitored, with no current evidence suggesting broader community spread.
The development comes after the Cross River State Government announced a fresh infection years after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the end of COVID-19’s global emergency phase.
The virus, first identified in 2019, had previously caused widespread disruption, resulting in millions of deaths and global economic shutdowns.
According to the state’s Commissioner for Health, Henry Ayuk, the index case involves a Chinese national working in Akamkpa Local Government Area who arrived in Nigeria on March 17 and later showed symptoms.
Health authorities confirmed that the patient has been isolated and is receiving treatment in line with established protocols.
The NCDC added that the individual is in stable condition and responding well to care.
In response to the case, the NCDC, alongside its partners and the Cross River State Ministry of Health, has activated measures such as contact tracing, enhanced surveillance, and infection prevention and control.
The agency also emphasized that routine monitoring for COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses remains ongoing, while urging Nigerians to maintain basic hygiene practices such as regular handwashing and proper respiratory etiquette—and to seek medical attention if they feel unwell.
Although the pandemic caused by COVID-19 once led to over 266,000 confirmed cases and more than 3,000 deaths in Nigeria, health officials are encouraging calm, noting that the current situation is under control.
