A suspected outbreak of diarrhoea has been reported in some hostels at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), with several students allegedly experiencing symptoms including vomiting, frequent stooling, and fever.
The outbreak is said to be particularly prevalent at Moremi Hall, one of the university’s female hostels, raising concerns among students, parents and other members of the university community.
Checks and comments shared by students on social media indicated that a number of affected students have been battling symptoms for several days. Some students were also reported to be suffering from high fever alongside gastrointestinal complications.
A concerned parent raised the alarm over the situation, calling for urgent intervention by relevant authorities.
“My daughter in Moremi Hostel just reported that many students have been vomiting and stooling for days now, with high fever too. Kindly help escalate this so that the authorities can act fast,” the parent said.
Another parent also expressed concern and urged the university management to promptly address the situation to prevent further spread of the illness.
In response to the reports, the University of Lagos management on Wednesday evening issued a statement assuring students and staff that the situation was being handled with urgency.
In a statement signed by the Head of the Communication Unit, Mrs. Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, the university said it had become aware of reports alleging contamination of the campus water supply in some halls of residence.
“The attention of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Management has been drawn to reports on the alleged contamination of the campus water supply within some halls of residence,” the statement read.
The university noted that relevant departments had commenced a comprehensive assessment of the water supply system, including water quality tests, to verify the claims and identify any potential health risks.
According to the statement, immediate measures have also been implemented to safeguard the welfare, health and safety of students while investigations continue.
Management urged members of the university community to avoid spreading unverified information capable of causing panic, assuring that official updates would be communicated through approved channels once the assessment is completed.
The university further reiterated its commitment to maintaining a safe and conducive learning environment and pledged to take all necessary actions based on the outcome of the ongoing investigations.