Oyo Confirms Lassa Fever Cases, Activates Emergency Response to Outbreak
Koko Maxwella 
IBADAN, Nigeria – Oyo State confirms five cases of Lassa fever and one death, triggering an emergency response as authorities race to contain the outbreak.
Health Commissioner Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi says infected patients are receiving treatment at isolation centres.
“We have activated emergency response measures,” she states.
Authorities begin contact tracing, monitoring over 200 individuals linked to the confirmed cases.
Essential drugs, including Ribavirin, are deployed, while isolation centres are fully operational.
Preventive measures such as protective equipment distribution and safe burial protocols are also enforced.
Officials urge residents to maintain hygiene, avoid rodent contact and seek medical attention for symptoms.
The outbreak follows rising national concerns, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reporting 167 deaths in 2026.
Experts warn that early detection and rapid response remain critical to preventing wider transmission.
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Otamere Gladness 
