The Oyo State Ministry of Health has closed two hospitals in Saki West Local Government Area following a suspected outbreak of Lassa fever.
This decision came after the Oyo State Rapid Response Team (RRT) from the Ministry of Health confirmed four fatalities in Saki, responding to distress calls from residents reporting mysterious deaths.
The victims included three men and a 32-year-old woman who was preparing for her wedding.
In a statement signed by Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, had earlier directed the RRT to investigate the reports from Saki West, which described an outbreak linked to multiple deaths.
The investigation team included the Director of Public Health, State Epidemiologist, State Disease Notification Officer, State Laboratory Focal Persons, and representatives from WHO, Red Cross, the PHC Coordinator for Saki West, and the LGA DSNO.
Initial findings suggest that an apprentice at one of the hospitals, who had recently returned from Iwajowa Local Government Area, fell ill about two weeks before the incident, potentially introducing the infection.
The team noted that “She likely transmitted it to her co-workers and the hospital owner”.
Three of the deceased exhibited typical symptoms of Lassa fever, including craniofacial bleeding, while the hospital owner showed fatigue and self-medicated with antimalarials and antibiotics. His condition only prompted hospital admission when his self-treatment failed.
Extensive contact tracing was conducted, focusing on high-risk individuals involved in the preparation and burial of the deceased. The hospital where all the deceased had been treated was closed for decontamination.
Another hospital, where the deceased health facility owner had been admitted without prior knowledge of the mysterious deaths, was also shut down for decontamination, and the attending doctor is now under surveillance.
Public awareness campaigns were launched to educate the community on Lassa fever’s transmission, symptoms, and preventive measures.
Health workers in the affected areas received on-the-job training from the RRT to reinforce Infection Prevention Control protocols and reduce further spread.
Samples were collected from a symptomatic individual for laboratory confirmation, and contact listing is ongoing, with particular focus on high-risk contacts.
Advocacy visits included a meeting with the Okere of Saki’s representative, who was briefed on the outbreak and containment efforts. Local government authorities in Saki West were also informed and are cooperating with management efforts.
The investigation has revealed that, while the outbreak began in Saki West LGA, it has now spread to Iwajowa and Kajola LGAs. Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) in these areas have been directed to begin initial containment while awaiting full deployment of the State RRT.