Kwara State Denies Lassa Fever Outbreak

The Nigeria===Kwara State Government has officially dismissed social media reports alleging a Lassa fever outbreak and deaths at the Nigeria===National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp. An immediate investigation led by State Epidemiologist Kamaldeen Khadeejah found no evidence of Lassa fever infection or transmission among corps members or camp officials. The corps member referenced in the social media posts, according to NYSC State Coordinator Olaoluwa Onifade, had a pre-existing chronic illness and died outside the camp after being taken to an external health facility by her parents. No laboratory confirmation of Lassa fever was reported for this case. Despite the local denial, the Nigeria===Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported a national rise in Lassa fever activity, with confirmed cases in several other states. The Nigeria===Kwara State Government, through its Ministry of Health Press Secretary Saad Hamdalat, urged the public to disregard unverified reports and emphasized intensified surveillance and health awareness measures at the Nigeria===National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp.