Fresh panic has gripped Benue State following the death of two people from Lassa fever, barely a week after seven cases of the disease were recorded. Dr. Paul Ogwuche, the State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, disclosed on Thursday in Makurdi that the state has seen a surge in Lassa fever cases over the past two weeks.
According to Dr. Ogwuche, the state now has nine suspected cases, five of which have tested positive, with two fatalities confirmed. He noted that infections are primarily concentrated in Buruku and Makurdi Local Government Areas, with two health workers among those infected. “As we speak, there are nine suspected cases on our dashboard. Five have returned positive results, and we have recorded two deaths. Among the confirmed cases are two health workers,” he said.
The commissioner explained that two cases originated from Buruku but were diagnosed in Makurdi, highlighting the risk of further spread if containment measures are not intensified. The state government has activated its rapid response mechanisms, including the Incident Management Team and the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, while public enlightenment campaigns have been intensified to encourage hygiene, proper sanitation, and avoidance of rodent contact, the primary carriers of the virus.
“During the dry season, bush burning forces rats into homes. When food is left uncovered, they contaminate it. This is a major route of transmission,” Ogwuche warned. Surveillance has been heightened across all local government areas, with early detection and prompt treatment emphasised as the most effective ways to reduce fatalities. The newly diagnosed cases, though asymptomatic, have been isolated and are already receiving treatment.
Dr. Ogwuche also revealed that an emergency stakeholders’ meeting will be convened, involving the Federal Medical Centre, the Teaching Hospital hosting the isolation centre, the World Health Organisation, epidemiologists, and donor partners, to strengthen response efforts. “Our goal is clear: to contain this deadly disease before it spirals out of control,” he said.
