A fresh wave of Lassa fever in Ondo State has left 12 people dead, with 112 confirmed cases out of 353 suspected infections, prompting urgent intervention by the state government. The alarming figures were disclosed by the Acting Statistician-General of the state, Mr. Olusola Ajayi, during an address to workers of the state’s Waste Management Authority.
Ajayi called for immediate collaboration among stakeholders to curb the spread of the deadly disease, emphasizing that proactive measures were essential to protect public health. “We are in this together, and we must act fast. The data we have now is a wake-up call. In Ondo State today, there are 353 suspected cases of Lassa fever, with 112 confirmed and 12 fatalities. The time to act is now,” he warned.
The Ondo State Ministry of Health has ramped up efforts to contain the outbreak by leveraging its newly upgraded testing facility at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Akure. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Adeniran Ikuomola, revealed that the state would no longer rely on the Federal Medical Centre in Owo for sample testing. Instead, the state’s upgraded laboratory, funded by the United States Centre for Disease Control (USCDC) and facilitated by the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), would now handle Lassa fever diagnostics.
Ikuomola expressed confidence in the state’s ability to manage the outbreak through enhanced case detection, improved testing capacity, and better treatment protocols. “This upgrade is a game-changer for Ondo State. It strengthens our public health laboratories to efficiently test for Lassa fever and other infectious diseases. The IHVN has provided personnel training and critical resources, and we have complemented their efforts with additional support,” he explained.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is also playing a key role in the fight against Lassa fever in the state. Dr. Yetunde Abioye, a representative of the agency, assured that ongoing efforts to optimize the laboratory were in their final stages. She disclosed that additional medical equipment had been deployed and further training was being conducted to prepare the facility for full-scale testing.
“We have sent 18 new pieces of equipment and conducted preliminary training for personnel. More training will follow to ensure the lab operates at full capacity. Our goal is to have a fully functional emergency operation center to test and manage Lassa fever cases,” Abioye stated.
Lassa fever, a severe hemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, spreads through contact with food or household items contaminated by rodent urine or feces. Human-to-human transmission is also possible through exposure to infected bodily fluids. The disease is endemic in Nigeria, with Ondo, Edo, and Ebonyi states consistently recording high cases.
The outbreak in Ondo underscores the urgency of preventive measures, including proper sanitation, rodent control, and early medical intervention for suspected cases. Health authorities are urging residents to maintain strict hygiene, avoid food contamination, and report symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and unexplained bleeding immediately.
With the state government ramping up its response and international support bolstering its capacity, there is hope that Ondo will contain the outbreak and prevent further fatalities.
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