The Oyo State Government has confirmed five cases of Lassa fever, including one fatality, and announced the activation of emergency response measures to contain the outbreak.
The State Commissioner for Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, disclosed this during a press briefing in Ibadan, stating that all confirmed cases are currently being managed in designated isolation facilities.
These include the state’s Infectious Disease Centre in Olodo and the isolation unit at the University College Hospital.
According to Ajetunmobi, the government has activated a coordinated multi-sectoral response in line with guidelines from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organisation.
She explained that the Incident Management System and Emergency Operations Centre have been set up, alongside a response team comprising officials from the health, environment, agriculture, and information sectors.
Surveillance has also been intensified, with active case searches ongoing and more than 200 contacts already identified and being monitored.
The commissioner noted that isolation centres are fully operational, while essential medications, including Ribavirin, have been made available. Infection prevention and control measures have also been strengthened through the provision of protective equipment and adherence to safe burial practices.
Efforts such as environmental sanitation, fumigation, and decontamination of affected areas are currently underway, with healthcare workers receiving continuous training to manage the situation effectively.
Ajetunmobi urged residents to observe strict hygiene practices, including proper food storage, maintaining clean surroundings, avoiding contact with rodents, and seeking immediate medical attention if symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or bleeding occur.
She also encouraged prompt reporting of suspected cases to the nearest health facility.
Other government officials echoed the call for vigilance. The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Ademola Aderinto, said environmental health officers have been deployed to communities to boost awareness and ensure compliance with safety measures.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, urged residents to adhere to public health advisories.
The Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital, Jesse Otegbeye, commended the state government’s swift response, describing it as comprehensive and proactive in curbing the spread of the disease.