Nigeria has recorded a new case of COVID-19, marking a fresh development years after the global outbreak subsided. The case was confirmed in Cross River State.

The state Ministry of Health has begun contact tracing for individuals linked to a Chinese national who tested positive after being admitted.

The Commissioner for Health, Henry Ayuk, disclosed this in Calabar while addressing journalists on the resurgence of the virus in the state.

He stated that this is the first notable case recorded in Cross River since 2022 and assured that measures are in place to contain further spread.

According to him, the patient arrived in Nigeria on March 17, 2026, and is believed to have contracted the virus within the country after exceeding the 14-day incubation period, with symptoms appearing on April 10.

Ayuk urged residents to remain vigilant while continuing their normal daily activities, noting that the state has the capacity to manage and prevent the spread of the disease.

He added that health workers have been deployed across communities in Akamkpa Local Government Area, where the patient lived and worked, to curb possible transmission.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization coordinator in the state, Yewande Olatunde, warned that the virus has not been fully eradicated globally and continues to evolve in different strains, urging Nigerians to remain health-conscious and adhere to public health guidelines.