The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is collaborating with health authorities in Cross River State after a fresh COVID-19 infection was confirmed.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, said the agency had activated its response systems to limit any potential spread.
This is according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria.
According to state health officials, the case involves 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.
Cross River’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk, disclosed that the patient is currently receiving treatment and showing signs of improvement. He added that laboratory findings are being used to guide further care.
Ayuk noted that intensified measures including contact tracing, surveillance, and infection prevention protocols are already underway in collaboration with the NCDC and other partners. He stressed that all identified contacts are being monitored and that there is no indication of widespread transmission at this stage.
Health authorities say the detection highlights the country’s continued capacity to identify and respond to infectious disease threats.
Residents have been urged to remain calm but vigilant, maintain proper hand and respiratory hygiene, stay home when ill, and rely on official updates from public health agencies.
The NCDC also reaffirmed its commitment to closely tracking developments and providing timely information, with response teams deployed to support containment efforts.
Nigeria first recorded COVID-19 in February 2020, prompting a nationwide response led by the NCDC and the Federal Ministry of Health. While cases have significantly declined, experts warn that the virus still circulates globally and could trigger isolated outbreaks.
They caution that reduced testing and reporting in many countries make it harder to detect trends, underscoring the need for sustained surveillance and preparedness.
Historical data indicate that Nigeria recorded over 267,000 confirmed cases, more than 3,100 deaths, and nearly 260,000 recoveries during the peak of the pandemic.
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