Delta to start local Lassa fever testing by 2027

Delta State plans to begin testing Lassa fever samples locally by March 2027, when a new specialized public health laboratory is expected to open.

The state is also building its first neuropsychiatric facility. Health Commissioner Joseph Onojaeme said both projects emerged from a needs assessment conducted after Governor Sheriff Oborevwori took office in 2023. The assessment found that Delta lacked a dedicated psychiatric hospital and a specialized public health laboratory.

Residents seeking psychiatric treatment have often travelled outside the state, particularly to Port Harcourt and Benin. Onojaeme said the new facility would bring specialized mental healthcare closer to residents and reduce the cost and inconvenience of those journeys. He linked the need to growing drug abuse and mental health challenges.

The laboratory is intended to address delays that became clear during the COVID-19 pandemic and other outbreaks. Delta has depended on laboratories in Irrua, Abuja and Lagos to analyze some samples. Transporting specimens outside the state can delay results and slow the government’s response to infectious diseases.

“With a Lassa fever outbreak, we no longer need to send our samples to other states to analyse and bring back. That will be done in Delta State,” Onojaeme said. He added that the facility would use modern equipment, including polymerase chain reaction machines, and would be developed to meet Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention standards. After inspecting the construction, he said he expected both projects to be completed by March 2027.

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With a Lassa fever outbreak, we no longer need to send our samples to other states to analyse and bring back. That will be done in Delta State