Kwara Govt Dismisses Lassa Fever Rumours at NYSC Orientation Camp
The Kwara State Government has dismissed reports circulating on social media alleging deaths from Lassa fever at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in the state.
The clarification followed an immediate investigation by the Kwara State Rapid Response Team (RRT), led by the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Kamaldeen Khadeejah, after a social media post on Sunday, February 8, 2026, claimed that a corps member had died from suspected Lassa fever at the camp.
According to findings from a field investigation and a retrospective active case search, no cases of Lassa fever were identified among corps members or camp officials. Dr. Khadeejah stated that while the current public health risk remains low, surveillance activities at the camp have been intensified to ensure early detection and prompt response to any suspected illness.
She explained that as part of precautionary measures, the RRT carried out supportive supervision at the camp clinic, strengthened infection prevention and control practices, and sensitized health workers and corps members on Lassa fever symptoms, early reporting, and prevention strategies. She urged the public to disregard unverified social media reports and rely on information from official government sources.
The NYSC State Coordinator, Mr. Olaoluwa Onifade, also confirmed that the corps member referenced in the social media post was ill due to a pre-existing chronic condition. He explained that the camp management contacted the corps member’s parent, who took her to an external health facility on February 1, 2026, where she later died on February 7, 2026.
Mr. Onifade said no laboratory confirmation of Lassa fever had been reported to the RRT and that the investigation found no evidence of Lassa fever transmission within the camp. He added that there were no clusters of febrile illness or symptoms suggestive of the disease among corps members.
In his remarks, an Environmental Health Officer, Mr. Adamu Kabiru, recommended stronger sanitation and rodent control measures at the camp and surrounding areas. He stressed the importance of proper environmental sanitation, provision of sanitary waste bins, and discouraging bush burning near residential zones.
Meanwhile, the State Health Promotion Officer, Mr. Jubril Abdul Kareem, educated corps members on the symptoms of Lassa fever, including body pain, headache, restlessness, diarrhoea, vomiting, and sore throat. He also highlighted preventive measures such as avoiding contact with rats, preventing food contamination by rodents, blocking holes in homes, and storing food in covered containers.
The state government reiterated its commitment to safeguarding public health and encouraged residents to remain calm and vigilant.
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