The Oyo State Government has confirmed five cases of Lassa fever, including one death, as it ramps up emergency measures to contain the outbreak.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, disclosed this during a press briefing in Ibadan, noting that the affected patients are receiving treatment at designated isolation centres.
She said the cases were being managed at the State Infectious Disease Centre, Olodo, and the University College Hospital isolation unit, where specialised care and containment protocols have been activated.
According to her, the state government swiftly triggered its emergency response framework, deploying a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach in line with guidelines from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.
Ajetunmobi explained that key interventions include the activation of the Incident Management System and Emergency Operations Centre, as well as the inauguration of a response team comprising officials from the health, environment, agriculture, and information sectors.
She added that surveillance had been intensified, with over 200 contacts identified and placed under monitoring, while the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System had been deployed for real-time data tracking.
The commissioner further disclosed that essential medical supplies, including Ribavirin, had been made available, while infection prevention and control measures had been strengthened across health facilities.
Environmental sanitation, fumigation, and decontamination of affected areas are also ongoing, alongside public sensitisation campaigns and continuous training for healthcare workers.
Ajetunmobi commended Governor Seyi Makinde for approving emergency funds that enabled the rapid rollout of response measures, while also acknowledging the support of development partners and relevant ministries.
She urged residents to maintain proper hygiene, store food safely, avoid contact with rodents, and promptly report symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or bleeding to health facilities.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Ademola Aderinto, said environmental health officers had been deployed to sensitise residents, while measures were being taken to ensure food safety.
The Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, called on residents to adhere strictly to health advisories, assuring that the government remains committed to safeguarding public health.
Representatives of the University College Hospital commended the state government’s response, describing it as comprehensive and effective in managing the outbreak.
