RismadarVoice Reporters
February 4, 2026
The Benue State Government has officially declared an outbreak of Lassa fever, following a rise in suspected cases across the state.
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Makurdi on Tuesday.
According to him, 56 suspected cases of Lassa fever have been recorded so far, out of which eight have been laboratory confirmed.
He said the outbreak has claimed three confirmed deaths, with one additional probable death currently under investigation.
Dr Ogwuche also revealed that four healthcare workers, three nurses and one community health worker, have been infected, raising concerns about the safety of frontline medical personnel.
He said the state government has activated an emergency public health response, including the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, to coordinate surveillance, case management, contact tracing, and public sensitisation across the 23 local government areas of the state.
The commissioner urged health facilities to strictly adhere to infection prevention and control measures, stressing that the outbreak poses a serious risk to both patients and healthcare workers.
He advised residents to remain calm but vigilant, explaining that Lassa fever is commonly transmitted through contact with infected rodents, their urine or droppings, and can also spread from person to person, especially in healthcare settings.
