By Peter Omopo
The State Epidemiologist, Dr Msuega Asema, disclosed this on Friday when the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ejeh-Ogwuche, visited isolation centres at Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi and the Federal Medical Centre in Apir, where affected patients are receiving treatment.
The commissioner had earlier declared a Lassa fever outbreak in the state following a rise in suspected cases. On February 16, he told journalists that four health workers had died from the disease, with more than 60 suspected cases recorded at the time.
Providing an update during the visit, Asema said the state is facing a devastating outbreak, with 45 confirmed cases and 10 cumulative deaths out of 250 suspected cases reported so far. He noted that a significant number of those affected are health workers, including five medical doctors, four nurses, two community health extension workers and one hospital porter.
Ejeh-Ogwuche urged residents not to panic, assuring that the state government had intensified efforts to contain the outbreak since it was officially declared on February 3. He said the visit was aimed at assessing the situation on the ground and showing solidarity with patients undergoing treatment at the two facilities.
According to him, the infection involves human-to-human transmission largely due to lapses in infection prevention. He stated that the government under Governor Hyacinth Alia remains fully committed to containing the disease and has activated necessary measures, including mobilising resources to curb further spread.
The commissioner announced that surveillance officers have been deployed across the 23 local government areas of the state to strengthen monitoring, contact tracing and community engagement. He appealed to residents to promptly report symptoms at designated health facilities for early diagnosis and treatment, stressing that timely intervention is critical in reducing fatalities.
He commended health workers for their dedication and sacrifice and expressed sympathy to families of those who lost their lives.
The Chief Medical Director of Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Dr Stephen Hwande, said the hospital had put measures in place to manage the outbreak and urged residents to adhere strictly to infection prevention protocols.
Chairman of the hospital’s Medical Advisory Committee, Prof Michael Agbir, described the situation as unusual compared to previous years. He revealed that between January and February 2026, the hospital recorded 28 admissions, with 17 confirmed cases currently on admission and three deaths.
At the Federal Medical Centre, Apir, the Chief Medical Director, Prof Joseph Kontor, represented by Dr Uche Augustine Azuka, said the laboratory has been handling diagnostic tests for Lassa fever, COVID-19, chickenpox, cholera, hepatitis B and C, among other conditions. He, however, lamented that inadequate power supply has hampered effective service delivery at the isolation centre, making it difficult to conduct tests and obtain timely results.
He appealed to the state government to intervene by improving power supply and providing consumables and personal protective equipment, noting that patients are currently being treated and discharged free of charge.
