One Dead As Oyo Records Five Confirmed Lassa Fever Cases

The Oyo State Government has confirmed an outbreak of Lassa fever in the state, with five cases recorded and one person confirmed dead.

The State Commissioner for Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, disclosed this during a press briefing, stating that the government has activated emergency measures to contain the virus’s spread.

According to the Commissioner, the confirmed cases are currently receiving treatment at designated isolation centres, including the State Infectious Disease Centre in Olodo and the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan.

In response to the outbreak, the state has triggered its emergency response framework. This includes the deployment of a multi-sectoral team involving the health, environment, agriculture, and information sectors to manage the situation in line with guidelines from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Interventions already in place include activating the Emergency Operations Centre and intensifying monitoring of over 200 identified contacts. The government has also provided essential drugs, such as Ribavirin, and is enforcing safe burial practices to prevent further transmission.

On his part, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Ademola Aderinto, noted that environmental health officers have been deployed to sensitise residents, particularly food vendors, on safety and hygiene.