The Kwara State Government has officially debunked reports circulating on social media regarding a purported Lassa fever death at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp. Health authorities clarified on Tuesday that a recent fatality involving a corps member was the result of a long-standing medical condition rather than a viral outbreak.
The clarification follows a weekend of mounting anxiety after a social media post on Sunday, February 8, 2026, claimed a participant in the current orientation exercise had died of suspected Lassa fever. The report triggered immediate concern among parents and the public, prompting a high-level investigation by the state’s medical authorities.
In a formal statement released through the Ministry of Health, the Kwara State Rapid Response Team (RRT), led by State Epidemiologist Dr Kamaldeen Khadeejah, confirmed that a retrospective active case search yielded no evidence of Lassa fever transmission. The government emphasised that there are currently zero suspected or confirmed cases of viral haemorrhagic fever within the camp or among officials.
According to Dr Khadeejah, the individual referenced in the online reports had been battling a pre-existing chronic illness. The NYSC State Coordinator, Olaoluwa Onifade, further detailed the timeline of the event, stating that the camp management had contacted the corps member’s parents as her health declined. She was released into their care and moved to an external health facility on February 1, where she eventually passed away on February 7.
"No laboratory confirmation of Lassa fever has been reported to the Rapid Response Team as of the time of the investigation," Onifade stated. He added that the field probe found no clusters of febrile illness or symptoms suggestive of the virus among the remaining corps members.
Despite the low risk, the state has moved to bolster public health measures at the temporary orientation site, currently located at the Kwara State Polytechnic. The RRT has conducted supportive supervision at the camp clinic and reinforced infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols among frontline health workers.
State Health Promotion Officer Jubril Abdul Kareem has also commenced a series of sensitisation sessions for the corps members. These sessions focus on early reporting of symptoms such as high fever, headache, vomiting, and sore throat. Participants have been urged to maintain rigorous hygiene and ensure food items are stored in rodent-proof containers to prevent contact with the multimammate rats that carry the virus.
Dr Khadeejah urged the public to refrain from sharing unverified health alerts that could cause unnecessary panic. She reiterated that the state’s surveillance systems are fully activated and that the government remains committed to the safety of all young Nigerians serving in the state.