Lassa fever claims four health workers in Benue as 68 suspected cases emerge

By Johnson Arua

Benue State has recorded 68 suspected cases of Lassa fever, with 11 cases confirmed and four deaths so far, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, has disclosed.

Speaking Monday in Makurdi, the commissioner said three patients are currently on admission, while the four fatalities were health workers.

Dr. Ogwuche recalled that the state government officially declared a Lassa fever outbreak on February 3, 2026, following a review of data from the ministry.

“As we speak today, from our dashboard we have about 11 confirmed cases and about 68 suspected cases. Out of the 11 confirmed cases, four have resulted in mortalities, and four of those affected are health workers,” he said.

He noted that the state, in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has intensified surveillance, public enlightenment and response efforts to contain the spread of the disease.

According to him, officials from the NCDC were recently deployed from Abuja to support the state’s intervention measures, including sensitisation campaigns in churches and communities.

On the state of manpower in general hospitals, the commissioner explained that all 23 general hospitals in Benue are manned by qualified medical doctors.

However, he lamented that the recommended doctor-to-patient and nurse-to-patient ratios have yet to be achieved due to the global challenge of brain drain in the medical profession.

“Since this administration came on board, a lot of positive changes have been made, especially in terms of manpower development. Massive recruitment has taken place at the Teaching Hospital, and recruitment is ongoing in our primary healthcare facilities,” he stated.

Dr. Ogwuche also provided updates on the ongoing cancer centre project, assuring residents that work is progressing despite perceptions that it has stalled.

“The building needs to be customised to the equipment that will be installed. These equipment have to be ordered and may take months to arrive, but I assure you the project is dear to the Governor. The First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, is also interested in it. Processing and a lot of things are happening underground,” he said.

Addressing concerns about meningitis, the commissioner described it as a seasonal disease often linked to overcrowding and poor ventilation. “We are engaging in public health enlightenment beyond Lassa fever. We have sent teams to communities and churches to educate people on how to prevent contagious diseases. When people stay in overcrowded and poorly ventilated places, it increases the risk,” he warned.