The Ogun State Government has declared an outbreak of Lassa fever in the state following the death of a 25-year-old National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, announced this in a statement issued on Wednesday, confirming that the corps member, who fell sick in Ondo State, died at a secondary health facility in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State on March 18, 2025.
“The index case is a 25-year-old female National Youth Corps member who fell sick while in Ondo state and was brought to one of our secondary health facilities in Ijebu North LGA on 18th March 2025 and later died the same day,” the commissioner said.
Coker listed the symptoms of Lassa fever to include high-grade fever, headache, general body weakness, sore throat, muscle pain, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chest pain, and unexplained bleeding from the ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and other body openings.
She urged residents to report anyone with these symptoms to the nearest government health facility for immediate medical attention, emphasizing that prompt reporting and treatment are crucial in managing the disease.
“We implore members of the community to promptly report to the hospital if they notice any of these symptoms. Any case of febrile illness that has not responded to 48 hours of use of anti-malaria or antibiotics should raise an index of suspicion for Lassa fever,” Coker said.
The commissioner also advised healthcare workers to step up infection prevention and control measures, adding that the state government is committed to protecting the health of its citizens through continuous surveillance and prompt response to infectious diseases.
She noted that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Rapid Response Team at ljebu North East, are keeping the situation under control with enhanced surveillance and community engagement and mobilization for effective response.
“We implore all Health facilities in Ogun state, public and private, to step up Infection Prevention and Control measures and encourage compliance by all health facility staff. Healthcare worker who suspects Lassa fever in a patient are advised to call their local government disease surveillance and notification officer (LGA DSNO), whose numbers are placed in our health facilities or call the State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (0703-421-4893) or State Epidemiologist (0808-425-0881).
“The Ogun State Government remains dedicated to protecting the health of its citizens through continuous surveillance and prompt response to infectious diseases,” Coker said.
