Cross River deploys rapid response teams as Chinese is diagnosed with COVID-19

By Ehigimetor Igbaugba

The Cross River government said it has activated the emergency response center and deployed rapid response teams following outbreak of cases of COVID-19 in the state.

Dr Henry Ayuk, Cross River’s Commissioner for Health told journalists on Tuesday in Calabar the first reported case of the outbreak involved a Chinese national, who worked with a cement company, Lafarge.

According to him, the Chinese national flew into the country on March 17, before taking ill and was taken to the medical facility of his office.

But he had to be taken to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) when his case became worse

He said his samples were taken at UCTH and all protocols followed; it was subsequently confirmed that he had symptoms of COVID-19.

“We are, however, happy to report that he is doing well,” the commissioner said.

Ayuk asserted that the ministry of health had, however, been repositioned by the current administration, to handle and manage any situation – diseases or epidemic outbreaks.

According to him, unfortunately, there have been silent infections and clear cases from time to time.

“But we are determined that for every ailment, every disease or outbreak, if it is identified here in the state, there should be no alarm.

“The state will do well in terms of surveillance or containment of an outbreak. Whatever it is, we will do our best to contain it. So, there is no alarm.

“When this case was reported in about three or four days ago, we decided to be careful to confirm and ensure that the processes involved with identifying and confirming every case of COVID-19, are duly followed.

“The protocols have been followed and confirmed that a 53-year-old Chinese who work in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state has COVID-19,” he said.

On her part, Dr Inyang Ekpenyong, State Epidemiologist, announced that in response to the case, the state emergency response unit had been activated.

She, however, noted that there was currently an ongoing contact tracing and line listing of those the Chinese may have been in contact with.

While noting the last case of confirmed case of COVID-19 in Cross River to be in 2022, the epidemiologist, however, feared that the Chinese may have contacted the virus here in Nigeria.

“The incubation period for this virus is usually between two to 14 days, but the Chinese flew into Nigeria from China on March 17 and started developing the symptoms on April 10.

“This is well beyond the 14 days incubation period. Like I said, we are doing the line listing of those he may have come in contact with, as part of our containment efforts.

“We have also activated the emergency response center and deployed rapid response teams to Akamkpa, where the victim works.

“There is no way we can stop this disease, but we can stop the disease outbreak.

“It will be wrong not to contain or manage it by ensuring that people do not die,” she stated.

Similarly, Dr Yewande Olatunde, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Coordinator in Cross River, stated that the disease was still around.

“We we must explore all preventive measures to protect ourselves.” she stressed.

(NAN)