The Ondo State government has confirmed that 12 people have died from Lassa fever, with 112 confirmed cases out of 353 reported since the outbreak began.
Mr. Olusola Ajayi, Acting Statistician-General of the state, made the announcement while addressing workers at the state Waste Management Authority. He urged them to collaborate with other stakeholders to combat the disease, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “We must act quickly. As of today, Ondo State has recorded 353 cases of Lassa fever, with 112 confirmed, and 12 fatalities. If we are going to take action, the time is now,” Ajayi stated.
Dr. Adeniran Ikuomola, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, assured that the state would make use of the upgraded laboratory at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Akure for Lassa fever testing, eliminating the need to send samples to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo for confirmation.
He explained that the upgrade was funded by the United States Centre for Disease Control (USCDC) to strengthen the state’s public health laboratory capabilities for testing Lassa fever and other infectious diseases. Ikuomola expressed confidence that this would help control the outbreak while improving case management and detection.
“This effort is a collaborative one. The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) assisted with training personnel and providing necessary support. We have also provided additional resources to complement their efforts,” Ikuomola said.
Dr. Yetunde Abioye, a representative of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), also assured that the laboratory would soon be fully operational, with further equipment and training to optimize its functionality. “We’ve sent 18 pieces of equipment and conducted training sessions, but more will be done to ensure the lab is fully prepared to test for Lassa fever, especially in light of the current situation,” she said.
