The Oyo State Ministry of Health has ordered the closure of two hospitals in Saki West Local Government Area following a suspected outbreak of Lassa fever.
The action comes after the Oyo State Rapid Response Team (RRT) confirmed four fatalities, involving three men and a 32-year-old woman who was preparing for her wedding.
The RRT, dispatched by State Commissioner for Health Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, responded to distress calls from Saki residents reporting mysterious deaths in the area.
The team included senior health officials, WHO and Red Cross representatives, as well as local health coordinators, who conducted a thorough investigation of the outbreak.
Reports indicated that the infection likely originated from an apprentice at one of the hospitals, who had recently returned from Iwajowa Local Government Area and began showing symptoms. She is suspected to have transmitted the infection to co-workers and the hospital owner. Three of the deceased exhibited symptoms consistent with Lassa fever, such as craniofacial bleeding, while the hospital owner self-medicated until his condition worsened.
As part of containment efforts, the affected hospital was shut down for decontamination, and a second hospital that treated the infected owner without knowledge of the outbreak was also closed. The attending doctor is now under surveillance.
Extensive contact tracing has been undertaken, particularly focusing on individuals involved in the bathing and burial of the deceased. Health authorities launched a public awareness campaign in Saki, educating residents on Lassa fever’s transmission, symptoms, and preventive measures. Additionally, local healthcare workers received on-the-job training to strengthen infection prevention protocols.
Further investigation revealed that the outbreak, initially confined to Saki West, has extended to Iwajowa and Kajola LGAs. District Surveillance Officers (DSNOs) in these areas have been instructed to initiate preliminary containment efforts while awaiting full support from the state’s RRT.
In a statement by Commissioner for Information and Orientation Dotun Oyelade, the government expressed its commitment to controlling the outbreak and safeguarding public health.
