Oyo Confirms 5 Lassa Fever Cases, Activates Emergency Response After Death Reported

On Friday, the Oyo State Government verified five instances of Lassa fever, including one fatality, and assured people that emergency mechanisms have been launched to manage the outbreak.

Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, the state Commissioner for Health, made the announcement during a news briefing in Ibadan.

She stated that the confirmed cases are being managed at designated isolation and treatment facilities, such as the state Infectious Disease Center in Olodo and the University College Hospital isolation unit.

The commissioner remarked, "The State Government wishes to confirm five cases of Lassa fever epidemic, with one fatality.

"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."

She stated that the government has activated the Incident Management System and Emergency Operations Centre, as well as established a multi-sectoral reaction team comprised of officials from the health, environment, agriculture, and information sectors.

According to her, surveillance has been increased, with an active case search and tracking of over 200 identified contacts.

She also stated that isolation centers had been operationalized, and that necessary medications, such as Ribavirin, had been prepared. 

The commissioner stated that infection prevention and control methods had been strengthened, including the provision of personal protective equipment and the adoption of safe burial practices.

She said that environmental sanitation, fumigation, and decontamination of affected regions were ongoing, and healthcare staff were receiving continual training.

Ajetunmobi asked households to rigorously follow preventive measures such as appropriate food storage, keeping clean environments, avoiding contact with rodents, and getting immediate medical attention for symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or bleeding.

She also advocated for the rapid reporting of suspicious cases to the nearest health facility.

Ademola Aderinto, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, stated that environmental health officers had been sent to raise awareness among communities and guarantee compliance with safety requirements.

Similarly, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, asked residents to follow public health recommendations.

Prof Jesse Otegbeye, the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital, praised the state government's prompt response, calling it thorough and effective.