The Kwara State Government has dismissed as false reports circulating on social media claiming that a corps member died of Lassa fever at the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp in the state.
The state government made the clarification on Tuesday through a statement issued by the Press Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Saad Hamdalat, following an investigation carried out by the state’s Rapid Response Team.
According to the statement, the investigation was led by the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Kamaldeen Khadeejah, after a social media post alleged on Sunday, February 8, 2026, that a corps member had died from suspected Lassa fever at the camp.
“The findings from field investigations and a retrospective active case search showed no evidence of Lassa fever infection or transmission within the NYSC orientation camp,” the statement said.
It added that no suspected or confirmed case of viral haemorrhagic fever had been recorded among corps members or camp officials.
Despite the outcome, the state government said monitoring activities had been intensified to prevent any public health risk.
“Although the current public health risk is considered low, surveillance has been strengthened at the camp to ensure early detection and prompt response to any suspected illness,” Khadeejah said.
She explained that the Rapid Response Team also conducted supportive supervision at the camp clinic and reinforced infection prevention and control measures.
“Health workers and corps members were sensitised on the symptoms of Lassa fever, the importance of early reporting, and preventive practices,” she added.
The epidemiologist advised residents to disregard unverified social media claims and rely on information from official government channels.
Providing further details, the NYSC State Coordinator, Olaoluwa Onifade, said the corps member mentioned in the social media report had a pre-existing chronic health condition.
He explained that the camp management contacted the corps member’s parent, who took her to a private health facility on February 1, 2026, where she later died on February 7, outside the camp.
“There has been no laboratory confirmation of Lassa fever reported to the Rapid Response Team,” Onifade said.
He added, “Our findings show no evidence of Lassa fever transmission in the camp, as there were no clusters of febrile illness or symptoms suggestive of the disease among corps members.”
Also speaking, an Environmental Health Officer, Adamu Kabiru, called for improved sanitation and rodent control to reduce health risks.
“Proper environmental sanitation, the use of covered waste bins, and discouraging bush burning around residential areas are critical preventive measures,” he said.
Similarly, the State Health Promotion Officer, Jubril Abdul Kareem, educated corps members on common symptoms of Lassa fever, including headache, body pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, restlessness, and sore throat, while stressing the need to avoid contact with rats and store food in well-covered containers.
