The Oyo State Government has confirmed a case of Lassa fever at the University College Hospital [UCH], Ibadan, with the patient reported dead.
The case involved a 44-year-old woman who was managed at the facility but died on Saturday, April 11, 2026, while laboratory confirmation of the infection was received two days later.
Confirming the development in a statement, the Commissioner for Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, said the state government had activated its emergency response mechanisms following the confirmed case.
She disclosed that the Incident Management System (IMS) for Lassa fever had been activated to coordinate response activities, including surveillance and containment measures.
According to her, health authorities have commenced contact tracing to identify and monitor all persons who may have been exposed to the deceased, while arrangements have been made to ensure a safe and dignified burial.
Ajetunmobi urged residents to seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as persistent fever, weakness, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, unexplained bleeding, chest pain or difficulty in breathing, noting that early presentation at health facilities significantly improves survival chances.
She explained that Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease caused by the Lassa virus and is primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by urine or faeces of infected rodents.
The commissioner added that human-to-human transmission could also occur through contact with bodily fluids of infected persons, particularly in healthcare settings where infection prevention protocols are inadequate.
She advised residents to maintain a high level of environmental hygiene by keeping their surroundings clean, storing food in rodent-proof containers, disposing of waste properly and avoiding the practice of drying food items on the ground or by the roadside.
“They should also take deliberate steps to prevent contact with rodents by sealing holes and other entry points in their homes,” she said.
The commissioner further emphasised the importance of personal hygiene, including regular handwashing with soap and water, as well as the use of hand sanitisers where necessary.
She urged residents with suspected symptoms to report through designated emergency lines: 08033742052 and 08025245809, while calling on health workers to strictly adhere to infection prevention and control measures.
Ajetunmobi reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding public health, noting that surveillance had been intensified across the state, with health facilities placed on high alert.
She added that the government was strengthening collaboration with relevant stakeholders to ensure a coordinated response, assuring residents that there was no cause for panic as the situation remained under control.
