The Kwara State Government has dismissed social media claims that a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) died of Lassa fever at the state’s orientation camp.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the state Ministry of Health said investigations carried out by its Rapid Response Team found no evidence of Lassa fever infection or transmission within the camp.
The clarification followed a viral post shared on Sunday, February 8, which alleged that a corps member had died after contracting the viral haemorrhagic fever at the facility.
According to the ministry’s Press Secretary, Saad Hamdalat, the investigation was led by the State Epidemiologist, Dr Kamaldeen Khadeejah, and involved on-site assessments as well as a retrospective review of health records.
“Findings from the investigation revealed no suspected or confirmed cases of Lassa fever among corps members or camp officials,” the statement said, adding that there was “no evidence of transmission within the NYSC orientation camp.”
Khadeejah said the overall public health risk was considered low but noted that surveillance at the camp had been stepped up as a precaution.
“Although the current public health risk is considered low, surveillance activities have been strengthened to ensure early detection and prompt response to any suspected illness,” she said.
The Rapid Response Team also carried out supervisory checks at the camp clinic, reinforced infection prevention and control measures, and sensitised health workers and corps members on recognising symptoms and preventing Lassa fever.
The NYSC State Coordinator, Olaoluwa Onifade, also addressed the reports, clarifying that the corps member mentioned in the social media post had a pre-existing chronic medical condition.
According to him, camp officials contacted the corps member’s parent, who took her to an external medical facility on February 1, 2026. She later died on February 7, outside the camp.
“No laboratory confirmation of Lassa fever has been reported to the Rapid Response Team,” Onifade said.
“There were also no clusters of febrile illness or symptoms suggestive of Lassa fever among corps members.”
Environmental Health Officer Adamu Kabiru advised that sanitation and rodent control measures be strengthened to minimise public health risks. He stressed the importance of proper waste disposal, the use of covered dustbins, and avoiding bush burning near residential areas.
Similarly, the State Health Promotion Officer, Jubril Abdul Kareem, educated corps members on common symptoms of Lassa fever, including fever, body pain, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, and sore throat.
He also urged preventive measures such as avoiding contact with rodents and ensuring food is properly covered.
The Kwara State Government appealed to the public to ignore unverified information circulating online and rely on official sources for accurate public health updates.
