Wednesday, March, 18 2026 - The Benue State Government has reported a rise in suspected cases of Lassa fever, with health authorities confirming ongoing efforts to contain the outbreak.
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Paul
Ogwuche, disclosed that suspected cases have increased to 383, with 47
confirmed positive cases.
He also confirmed that the total number of deaths has
reached 14 since the outbreak began, although no new fatalities have been
recorded in the past 11 days. Ogwuche said: “We have not recorded any mortality
in the last 11 days. So far, the cumulative figure of suspected cases has moved
from 251 to 383, while 47 cases are confirmed cumulatively.”
Providing further details, he noted that laboratory testing
over the last 11 days confirmed only six new positive cases, indicating a
slowdown in the spread of the disease. Currently, 20 patients are receiving
treatment in isolation centres, including 14 at the Benue State University
Teaching Hospital and six at the Federal Medical Centre Makurdi.
The State Epidemiologist, Msuega Asema, had earlier reported
251 suspected cases, 45 confirmed infections, and 10 deaths in February,
showing an increase in overall figures but improved control measures in recent
weeks.
Ogwuche attributed the decline in mortality and slower
spread to intensified public health interventions and collaboration with key
partners, including the World Health Organization, Nigeria Centre for Disease
Control, and Médecins Sans Frontières.
He said: “The rates have dropped drastically because we are
actively combing for suspected cases… We have engaged in regular meetings with
WHO, NCDC, and the Emergency Operations Centre.”
According to him, surveillance is ongoing across all 23
local government areas, with health workers trained in infection prevention and
control, helping to limit further transmission. He added: “The pillars we put
in place, sensitization and health education, have accounted for this
development. People now know what to do and what they should avoid.”
The commissioner emphasized early detection and response as
key to improving outcomes. “So the earlier a patient presents, the better the
outcome. The low mortality shows that people are being tracked in their
communities and brought in for early treatment,” he said.
He also noted that the state government has provided funding
to support response efforts and that no outbreak has been recorded in
internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. “Everyone is on their toes, doing the
needful… We are on the verge of distributing informational materials (flyers)
to the 15 IDP camps in the state,” Ogwuche added.
Lassa fever is a serious viral disease endemic to West
Africa, primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items
contaminated by infected rodents.
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