By Capital Watch Media
The Oyo State Government has confirmed that four deaths in the Saki West local government area are linked to a suspected Lassa fever outbreak
The victims, three men and a 32-year-old woman, were residents of the region, with the woman reportedly preparing for her wedding at the time of her death.
Following the reports of multiple fatalities in Saki West, the Oyo State Rapid Response Team, RRT, was dispatched to the area to investigate.
The team, led by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, included specialists from the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organisation, WHO, the Red Cross, and local public health authorities.
Their investigation revealed that the suspected outbreak originated from a hospital where an apprentice, who had recently returned from Iwajowa and began exhibiting symptoms two weeks prior, likely introduced the infection.
Control, IPC, protocols.
As of now, samples from symptomatic individuals have been sent to a laboratory for confirmation, and contact tracing continues, prioritising high-risk individuals.
The investigation has shown that the outbreak began in Saki West but has spread to other local government areas, including Iwajowa and Kajola.
Local disease surveillance officers have been instructed to initiate containment measures while awaiting further support from the state RRT.
Additionally, advocacy visits have been made to local leaders, including the deputy of the Okere of Saki, to brief them on the situation and discuss necessary steps to contain the outbreak.
The Oyo State government continues to monitor the situation closely, working alongside local health authorities to mitigate further spread of the virus.
