By Adejoke Adeleye
Ogun government has confirmed the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state with an index death case of a 25-year-old female corps member recorded.
The state government in a statement signed by the Commissioner For Health, Dr Tomi Coker, revealed that the corps member whose identity was not given was reportedly sick while in Ondo State and was brought to secondary health facility in Ijebu North LGA on March 18, 2025 where she unfortunately passed away.
The government, however, urged its citizens to report to the nearest hospital promptly if they noticed, in anybody, symptoms such as high-grade fever; headache; general body weakness; sore throat, and muscle pain.
Other symptoms include cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chest pain, and unexplained bleeding from the ears, eyes, nose, mouth and other body openings.
“Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease characterized by symptoms such as 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.
“The Ogun State Government is urging citizens to report to the hospital promptly if they notice any of these symptoms.
“Healthcare workers are also advised to suspect Lassa fever in patients with febrile illnesses that have not responded to 48 hours of anti-malaria or antibiotics,” the statement said.
To combat the outbreak, the state government called on all health facilities, public and private, to enhance infection prevention and control measures.
Healthcare workers who suspect Lassa fever in a patient are advised to contact their local government disease surveillance and notification officer or the State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (0703-421-4893) or State Epidemiologist (0808-425-0881).
