Oyo confirms five Lassa fever cases, one death

The Oyo State Government on Friday confirmed five cases of Lassa fever, with one death, assuring residents that response measures have been activated to contain the outbreak.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, disclosed this during a press briefing in Ibadan.

She said the confirmed cases are being managed at designated isolation and treatment facilities, including the state Infectious Disease Centre, Olodo, and the University College Hospital isolation unit.

The commissioner stated, “The State Government wishes to confirm five cases of Lassa fever outbreak, with one death.

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 noted that the government had activated the Incident Management System and Emergency Operations Centre, alongside the establishment of a multi-sectoral response team comprising officials from the health, environment, agriculture and information sectors.

According to her, surveillance has been intensified, including active case search and monitoring of over 200 identified contacts.

She added that isolation centres had been operationalised, while essential drugs, including Ribavirin, had been prepositioned.

The commissioner said infection prevention and control measures had also been strengthened, with provision of personal protective equipment and implementation of safe burial protocols.

She added that environmental sanitation, fumigation and decontamination of affected areas were ongoing, while healthcare workers were undergoing continuous training.

Ajetunmobi urged residents to adhere strictly to preventive measures, including proper food storage, maintaining clean environments, avoiding contact with rodents and seeking prompt medical attention for symptoms such as fever, vomiting or bleeding.

She also called for immediate reporting of suspected cases to the nearest health facility.

The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Ademola Aderinto, said environmental health officers had been deployed to sensitise residents and ensure compliance with safety standards.

Similarly, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, urged residents to comply with public health advisories.

A representative of the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital, Prof Jesse Otegbeye, commended the state government’s swift response, describing it as comprehensive and effective.