Korede Abdullah in Lagos
A 25-year-old female member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has died from Lassa fever at a secondary health facility in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
According to a statement by the Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, the deceased had fallen ill while in Ondo State before being transferred to the Ogun facility on March 18, 2025, where she later passed away the same day.
“Ogun State has confirmed a case of Lassa Fever and as such declared Lassa fever outbreak,” Coker announced in the statement released on Wednesday.
Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic disease, presents symptoms such as high-grade fever, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, and unexplained bleeding.
Coker urged the public to seek medical attention if they experience persistent fever that does not respond to malaria or antibiotics within 48 hours.
“We implore members of the community to promptly report to the hospital if they notice any of these symptoms,” she advised. Health facilities across the state, both public and private, have been directed to strengthen infection prevention measures and ensure strict compliance among healthcare workers.
The Commissioner reaffirmed the commitment of the Ogun State government to safeguarding public health through continuous surveillance and rapid response to infectious diseases.
She emphasized that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Rapid Response Team in Ijebu North East, is actively managing the situation through intensified monitoring and community engagement.
“Healthcare workers who suspect Lassa fever in a patient are advised to call their local government disease surveillance officer or the State Epidemiologist,” she added, providing emergency contact numbers for immediate reporting and intervention.
