Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, on Wednesday confirmed that a 25-year-old female National Youth Service Corps member (name withheld) lost her life to Lassa fever.
This comes after the Commissioner for Health declared an outbreak of the hemorrhagic viral fever in the state on Tuesday.
It was gathered that on March 18, the 25-year-old woman, who had fallen ill in Ondo State, was later hospitalized at one of the state’s secondary health facilities in Ijebu North Local Government Area (LGA), where she succumbed to Lassa fever.
Coker said, “The index case is a 25-year-old female National Youth Service Corps member who fell ill while in Ondo State and was brought to one of our secondary health facilities in Ijebu North LGA on March 18, 2025. She later died the same day
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“Lassa fever is a viral Haemorrhagic disease that presents with High-grade fever, Headache, General body weakness, Sore throat, Muscle pain, Cough, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhoea, Chest pain and Unexplained bleeding from the ears, eyes, nose, mouth and other body openings.
In addressing the outbreak, she stated, “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!
“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 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.
“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.”
