Oyo State government has raised the alarm over the spread of Lassa fever, warning healthcare workers to treat every patient as potentially infectious, as the state recorded five confirmed cases and one death between January and September 8, 2025.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, gave the warning while outlining the government’s preparedness and response measures against Lassa fever and other viral haemorrhagic fevers.
Ajetunmobi said Lassa fever remained endemic in some parts of the state, noting that suspected cases were now being detected beyond the period traditionally associated with outbreaks.
According to her, although Lassa fever cases are usually more common between October or November and March or April, the state continues to record suspected cases during the rainy season.
She attributed the continued risk partly to poor environmental hygiene and the presence of multimammate rats, urging residents to properly dispose of waste, seal openings in their homes, and keep food securely covered.
The commissioner disclosed that Oyo had recorded cumulatively 131 suspected Lassa fever cases between January and September 8, 2026.
She said one recent confirmed case involved a patient who tested positive for Lassa fever but had already been taken to the Republic of Benin before the result was released and health officials could intervene.
She said contact tracing was immediately initiated and extended to the port authority, with officials manning the borders urged to remain proactive and vigilant.
Another recent case involving a deceased person, she said, remained classified as suspected because there was no laboratory confirmation.
Ajetunmobi stressed that the early symptoms of Lassa fever could resemble common febrile illnesses such as malaria, making early detection and a high index of suspicion critical.
She urged residents experiencing persistent fever, headache, sore throat, vomiting, or other unusual symptoms to seek medical attention promptly and disclose relevant travel history.
The commissioner said Oyo had activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre to strengthen coordination and preparedness for possible outbreaks of Lassa fever, Ebola, and other infectious diseases.
She added that the state had conducted facility-level preparedness assessments to identify gaps in infection prevention and control, screening, isolation, and case management.
Ajetunmobi, however, said healthcare workers must remain particularly vigilant because of their exposure to potentially infectious patients.
“We must not let down our own guard,” she warned, urging health workers to use gloves, face masks, and other personal protective equipment where necessary.
“Treat every patient as infectious,” she said, explaining that some patients with infectious diseases might not initially present with fever.
She also stressed the importance of proper hand hygiene before and after patient contact, particularly when healthcare workers may be exposed to bodily fluids.
Beyond health facilities, Ajetunmobi said the state had strengthened community surveillance through disease surveillance officers, facility heads, and community informants.
She urged residents to “see something and say something,” noting that early reporting would enable health authorities to investigate suspected cases and commence contact tracing promptly.
The commissioner said the state was also preparing public education materials in Yoruba and English, alongside billboards and other sensitisation campaigns, to promote prevention, early detection, and prompt reporting.
She further urged residents to maintain clean surroundings, protect drinking water from contamination, store food properly, and take measures to keep rodents away from their homes.
Ajetunmobi said sustained vigilance, community participation, and strict infection-control practices remained essential to protecting residents and healthcare workers from Lassa fever and other infectious diseases.
