The Oyo State Government has officially confirmed a fresh outbreak of Lassa fever in the state following the tragic death of a 44-year-old female patient at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, who confirmed the development on Monday, revealed that the deceased was managed at the tertiary health facility and passed away on April 11, 2026, while definitive laboratory results confirming the viral hemorrhagic disease were received two days later. In swift reaction to the laboratory findings, the state government has activated its Incident Management System and placed all emergency response mechanisms on high alert to contain a potential spread across the Pacesetter State.

Health authorities have already commenced a rigorous contact tracing exercise to identify and monitor everyone who had close interaction with the deceased, while ensuring that a safe and dignified burial is conducted in line with global infection control standards. Dr. Ajetunmobi urged residents to remain vigilant and report symptoms such as persistent fever, fatigue, sore throat, or unexplained bleeding to the state’s emergency lines, emphasizing that early detection remains the most effective tool for survival.

The Commissioner further advised the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene by securing food in rodent-proof containers and avoiding the practice of drying food items on open roadsides to prevent contamination by infected rodents. While placing all health workers in the state on high alert to adhere to strict infection prevention protocols, the state government assured residents that the situation is currently under control and there is no cause for panic.