Kwara Govt Denies Corps Member Died of Lassa Fever at NYSC Camp
Kwara State Government has dismissed claims circulating on social media that a corps member died of Lassa fever at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in the state.
The Ministry of Health’s Press Secretary, Saad Hamdalat, said this on Tuesday, following an investigation by the state’s Rapid Response Team.
The probe, led by State Epidemiologist Dr Kamaldeen Khadeejah, was launched after a social media post on Sunday, February 8, 2026, alleging a suspected Lassa fever death at the camp.
Findings from field investigations and a retrospective active case search showed no evidence of Lassa fever infection or transmission among corps members or camp officials. No suspected or confirmed cases of viral haemorrhagic fever were recorded.
Dr Kamaldeen said surveillance had been intensified as a precaution. “Although the current public health risk is considered low, monitoring has been strengthened at the camp to ensure early detection and prompt response to any suspected illness,” she said.
The Rapid Response Team also conducted supportive supervision at the camp clinic and reinforced infection prevention and control practices.
Health workers and corps members were educated on Lassa fever symptoms, early reporting, and preventive measures.
NYSC State Coordinator, Olaoluwa Onifade, clarified that the corps member mentioned in the social media post had a pre-existing chronic illness.
The parent had taken her to an external health facility on February 1, where she later died on February 7, outside the camp environment. He added that no laboratory confirmation of Lassa fever had been reported.
“The investigation found no evidence of Lassa fever transmission within the NYSC camp, as there were no clusters of febrile illness or symptoms suggestive of Lassa fever among corps members,” Onifade said.
Environmental Health Officer, Adamu Kabiru, urged strict sanitation and rodent control measures to reduce public health risks, stressing the need for proper waste disposal and discouraging bush burning near residential areas.
The state Health Promotion Officer, Jubril Abdul Kareem, educated corps members on Lassa fever symptoms, including body pain, headache, restlessness, diarrhoea, vomiting, and sore throat, while advising adherence to preventive measures.
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