Oyo State Confirms Five Lassa Fever Cases, Activates Emergency Response Measures

The Oyo State Government has confirmed five cases of Lassa fever, including one death, while assuring residents that emergency response systems have been activated to contain the outbreak.

The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, during a press briefing in Ibadan. She stated that the confirmed patients are currently receiving treatment at designated isolation centres, including the state Infectious Disease Centre in Olodo and the University College Hospital isolation unit under University College Hospital Ibadan.

According to the commissioner, the state has promptly activated its emergency response framework in line with guidelines from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. She noted that the Incident Management System and Emergency Operations Centre have also been activated to coordinate containment efforts.

Authorities have intensified surveillance activities, including active case searches and monitoring of more than 200 identified contacts. Isolation centres have been equipped, while essential medicines such as Ribavirin have been made available to support treatment.

The government also confirmed that infection prevention and control measures have been strengthened across health facilities. These include the provision of personal protective equipment, training for healthcare workers, and enforcement of safe burial protocols to reduce transmission risks.

Environmental sanitation campaigns, fumigation, and decontamination exercises are ongoing in affected communities, with health officials deployed to support public awareness and compliance.

Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Ademola Aderinto, said environmental officers have been mobilized to educate residents and enforce hygiene standards. Meanwhile, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, urged the public to follow all health advisories.

Health officials have advised residents to store food properly, maintain clean surroundings, avoid contact with rodents, and seek immediate medical attention for symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding.

The state government emphasized that early reporting of suspected cases remains critical to preventing further spread of the disease.