• The Oyo State Government has officially confirmed five cases of Lassa fever, with one death already recorded
• All confirmed cases are currently being managed at specialised facilities, including the state Infectious Disease Centre in Olodo and the University College Hospital (UCH) isolation unit
• Residents have been advised to maintain clean environments, avoid contact with rodents, and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or bleeding appear

The Oyo State Government has confirmed an outbreak of Lassa fever, recording five cases and one fatality, while assuring residents that swift measures are in place to curb its spread.

Speaking at a press briefing in Ibadan, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, revealed that all confirmed cases are currently receiving care at designated isolation facilities, including the state’s Infectious Disease Centre in Olodo and the University College Hospital isolation unit.

She said, “The State Government wishes to confirm five cases of Lassa fever outbreak, with one death.”

According to her, authorities moved quickly to activate emergency response systems, launching a coordinated, multi-sectoral intervention aligned with national directives from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and global standards set by the World Health Organisation.

She added, “The government promptly activated its emergency response framework, initiating a coordinated multi-sectoral intervention in line with national guidelines from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and global standards set by the World Health Organisation.”

Ajetunmobi explained that the state has operationalised its Incident Management System and Emergency Operations Centre, alongside assembling a multi-sectoral response team comprising officials from health, environment, agriculture, and information sectors.

Surveillance efforts have also been intensified, including active case finding and the monitoring of over 200 identified contacts.

Isolation centres are fully operational, and essential medications such as Ribavirin have been strategically prepositioned.

In addition, infection prevention and control measures have been strengthened, with the distribution of personal protective equipment and the enforcement of safe burial protocols.

Environmental sanitation efforts, including fumigation and decontamination of affected areas, are ongoing, while healthcare workers continue to receive specialised training to handle the outbreak.

The commissioner urged residents to take precautionary steps, including proper food storage, maintaining hygienic surroundings, avoiding contact with rodents, and seeking immediate medical attention if symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or bleeding occur.

She also stressed the importance of reporting suspected cases promptly to health authorities.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Ademola Aderinto, disclosed that environmental health officers have been deployed across communities to sensitise residents and enforce safety measures.

Similarly, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, called on residents to adhere strictly to public health guidelines to limit the spread of the disease.

A representative of the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital, Prof. Jesse Otegbeye, praised the government’s response, describing it as both timely and comprehensive.

NCDC issues public advisory on Lassa fever following doctor’s death after UK trip

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had issued a public health advisory following the death of a 31-year-old physician who contracted Lassa fever after returning from the United Kingdom.

NCDC urged Nigerians to practice good hygiene, store food in sealed containers, and ensure proper infection control in healthcare settings.