The Kwara State Rapid Response Team (RRT) has dismissed as false reports circulating on social media that a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) died of Lassa fever at the state’s orientation camp.
The clarification followed a swift investigation initiated after an online post on Sunday, February 8, 2026, alleged that a corps member had succumbed to suspected Lassa fever at the camp. In response, the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Kamaldeen Khadeejah, led a comprehensive inquiry to verify the claim.
According to findings from the field investigation and a retrospective active case search conducted at the camp, no case of Lassa fever was detected among corps members or camp officials. Health authorities confirmed that there was no evidence to support the claim of an outbreak within the facility.
Dr. Kamaldeen noted that although the current public health risk remains low, surveillance measures at the orientation camp have been strengthened to ensure early detection and prompt management of any suspected illness. She emphasized the importance of vigilance despite the absence of confirmed cases.
As part of precautionary steps, the Rapid Response Team carried out supportive supervision at the camp clinic and reinforced infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols. Health workers and corps members were also sensitized on the symptoms of Lassa fever, the need for early reporting, and preventive practices.
She urged residents to disregard unverified information and to rely solely on official updates from government health authorities, stressing that misinformation could cause unnecessary panic.
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Providing further clarification, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mr. Olaoluwa Onifade, explained that the corps member mentioned in the viral post had been managing a pre-existing chronic condition. He said the camp management promptly informed the individual’s parent, who withdrew her from the camp on February 1, 2026, for treatment at an external health facility. The corps member later passed away on February 7, 2026.
Onifade stated that no laboratory confirmation of Lassa fever had been reported to the Rapid Response Team at the time of the investigation. He added that there was no indication of transmission within the camp, noting the absence of clusters of fever or other symptoms associated with the disease among corps members.
An Environmental Health Officer, Mr. Adamu Kabiru, advised camp authorities to strengthen sanitation and rodent control measures. He underscored the need for proper waste disposal systems, the provision of covered dustbins, and the discouragement of bush burning around residential areas to reduce potential health risks.
Additionally, the State Health Promotion Officer, Mr. Jubril Abdul Kareem, educated corps members on common symptoms of Lassa fever, including body pain, headache, restlessness, diarrhoea, vomiting, and sore throat. He also highlighted preventive measures such as avoiding contact with rodents, ensuring food is properly stored, sealing openings in living spaces, and refraining from consuming food contaminated by rats.
