By SUNTV Global Channel
January 22, 2026
Fresh anxiety has gripped Benue State following the death of two residents from Lassa fever, barely a week after the state confirmed an initial outbreak of the deadly viral disease.
The Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, confirmed the development on Thursday in Makurdi, revealing a sharp rise in infections over the past two weeks.
According to him, two additional cases were recently added to the state’s disease surveillance dashboard, bringing the total number of suspected cases to nine. Of these, five have tested positive, while two deaths have already been recorded.
Disturbingly, two health workers are among those infected, raising concerns about exposure risks within healthcare facilities.
“As we speak, there are nine suspected cases of Lassa fever on our dashboard. Five have returned positive results and we have recorded two fatalities. Among the confirmed cases are two health workers,” Ogwuche disclosed.
He explained that although two of the confirmed cases originated from Buruku Local Government Area, they were diagnosed in Makurdi, highlighting the potential for wider transmission if containment efforts are not sustained.
The commissioner said the state government has activated its emergency response structures, including the Incident Management Team and the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, to contain the outbreak.
Public awareness campaigns have also been intensified, with residents urged to maintain proper hygiene, improve sanitation, and avoid contact with rodents, the primary carriers of the Lassa fever virus.
“During the dry season, bush burning drives rats into homes. When food is left uncovered, it becomes contaminated. This remains one of the major routes of transmission,” Ogwuche warned.
He added that disease surveillance has been heightened across all local government areas, stressing that early detection and prompt treatment remain the most effective tools for reducing fatalities.
The two newly identified cases, he noted, are currently asymptomatic but have been isolated as a precaution, with treatment protocols already underway.
Dr. Ogwuche further disclosed that the state is convening an emergency stakeholders’ meeting involving the Federal Medical Centre, the teaching hospital hosting the isolation centre, the World Health Organisation (WHO), epidemiologists, and donor partners to strengthen response efforts.
“Our objective is clear—to contain this deadly disease before it escalates beyond control,” he said.
