The Oyo State Government has confirmed five cases of Lassa fever, including one fatality, and says emergency response measures have been activated to contain the outbreak.
At a press briefing, the Commissioner for Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, disclosed that affected patients are receiving treatment at designated isolation centres, including the State Infectious Disease Centre and the University College Hospital Ibadan isolation unit.
She explained that the state has activated its emergency response framework, adopting a coordinated, multi-sectoral strategy in line with guidelines from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.
Ajetunmobi also commended Governor Seyi Makinde for what she described as decisive leadership, noting that the swift release of emergency funds enabled authorities to respond quickly.
Among the measures implemented are the activation of an Incident Management System and an Emergency Operations Centre, alongside the deployment of a multi-sectoral response team drawn from the health, environment, agriculture, and information sectors.
Authorities have intensified surveillance efforts, including active case searches and monitoring of more than 200 identified contacts. The Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System has also been deployed to support real-time data tracking and management.
Other interventions include the distribution of treatment drugs such as Ribavirin, strengthened infection prevention and control measures, and enforcement of safe burial practices in collaboration with environmental health officials.
Environmental sanitation campaigns, including fumigation and decontamination of affected areas, are ongoing. Healthcare workers are also receiving additional training, while public awareness campaigns are being expanded through mass media and community engagement to promote prevention and early detection.
Ajetunmobi urged residents to follow safety guidelines such as storing food in rodent-proof containers, maintaining clean surroundings, avoiding contact with rodents and bodily fluids, washing hands regularly, and seeking immediate medical care if symptoms like fever, vomiting, or bleeding occur.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Ademola Aderinto, said environmental health officers have been deployed to educate residents and ensure food safety, particularly among vendors.
The Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding public health and urged residents to comply with official guidelines.
Representatives from University College Hospital Ibadan, including Jesse Otegbeye, described the state’s response as robust and reassuring, noting that government support has strengthened efforts to contain the outbreak. Authorities say updates will be provided as the situation evolves.
