By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Oyo State Government has said confirmed cases of Lassa fever in the state are being managed in designated isolation and treatment facilities, including the state Infectious Disease Centre, Olodo, and the University College Hospital (UCH) isolation unit.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, said this during a joint press briefing in Ibadan on Friday, April 24.
Dr Ajetunmobi confirmed a Lassa fever outbreak in the state, with five recorded cases and one death, adding that infections are spreading across four local government areas in Ibadan.
She said, “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 revealed that the outbreak began with a 44-year-old woman who died on April 11, whose laboratory tests were confirmed on April 13, triggering an emergency public health response.
The commissioner explained that the index case had recently travelled to Edo State for a burial, which prompted cross-state surveillance and contact tracing efforts.
Ajetunmobi said 200 contacts have since been identified and are being monitored, adding that the five Lassa fever cases were detected in Ibadan South-West, Ibadan North, Ibadan North-West, and Ido.
According to her, some healthcare workers were among those infected, raising concerns about hospital-based transmission.
Ajetunmobi further assured residents that the outbreak is under control but urged strict adherence to hygiene and safety measures, especially avoiding contact with rodents and reporting symptoms early.
She disclosed that the Oyo government has activated its Emergency Operations Centre, deployed response teams, and commenced treatment of patients at isolation facilities, including the Infectious Disease Centre, Olodo, and the University College Hospital, Ibadan.
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The Commissioner for Environment, Engineer Ademola Aderinto, said the ministry has already mobilised a specialised team operating round the clock to tackle environmental risks associated with the transmission of Lassa fever.
Aderinto stressed that environmental factors account for a significant proportion of Lassa fever transmission, estimating that up to 90 percent of cases are linked to basic environmental conditions.
He warned against unsafe practices such as drying food items, including cassava flakes, along roadways, as well as displaying food in open and unprotected environments in markets, which he said are common habits that increase the risk of contamination.
The commissioner added that the environment ministry is conducting thorough checks on food storage systems to prevent rodent infestation, a known driver of Lassa fever transmission, as well as sensitising market operators and vendors on proper storage practices, particularly after business hours.
Aderinto reiterated the ministry’s commitment to sustaining a coordinated response, emphasising that sanitation, hygiene, and food protection remain central to controlling the outbreak.
“We are open to doing more in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders. When it comes to cleanliness, hygiene, sanitation, and food protection, we are on top of it,” he said.
The Chief Medical Director of UCH, Professor Jesse Otegbayo, assured residents of the state that the hospital, in collaboration with the state government, is fully committed to managing the situation and safeguarding public health.
Otegbayo, who was represented by the hospital’s Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Professor Bukola Adesina, said, “We want to reassure the public that our priority is the safety of our patients, our staff, and the community at large. We are fully engaged to manage the situation and safeguard public health.”
He reiterated the hospital’s readiness to continue working with the Oyo State Government and other stakeholders to ensure that the situation remains under control and does not escalate.
