The Kwara State Government has dismissed reports circulating on social media alleging that a corps member died of Lassa fever at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in the state.

The clarification was issued on Tuesday by the Ministry of Health’s Press Secretary, Saad Hamdalat, following an investigation conducted by the state’s Rapid Response Team.

According to the statement, the probe was led by the State Epidemiologist, Dr Kamaldeen Khadeejah, after a social media post on Sunday, February 8, 2026, claimed that a corps member had died from suspected Lassa fever at the camp.

Findings from field investigations and a retrospective active case search revealed no evidence of Lassa fever infection or transmission within the NYSC camp. The government added that no suspected or confirmed cases of viral haemorrhagic fever were recorded among corps members or camp officials.

Although the current public health risk was described as low, Dr Khadeejah said surveillance activities had been strengthened at the camp as a precaution.

“Surveillance has been intensified to ensure early detection and prompt response to any suspected illness,” she said, adding that health workers and corps members were sensitised on Lassa fever symptoms, early reporting, and preventive measures.

Providing further clarification, the NYSC State Coordinator, Olaoluwa Onifade, said the corps member referenced in the social media post had a pre-existing chronic illness.

He explained that the corps member was taken by her parents to an external health facility on February 1, 2026, and later died on February 7, 2026, outside the camp environment.

“No laboratory confirmation of Lassa fever has been reported, and there was no evidence of transmission within the camp,” Onifade said.

The state government urged the public to disregard unverified reports and rely on information from official sources, while also advising the strengthening of sanitation and rodent control measures to reduce public health risks.