Benue State Reports 45 Lassa Fever Cases, 10 Deaths

The Benue State government has confirmed 45 cases of Lassa fever, with 10 health workers reported dead due to the recent outbreak. Asema Msuega, the state epidemiologist, noted a significant increase in infections, with 250 suspected cases documented.

Paul Ogwuch, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, conducted an inspection at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi to assess the situation. Msuega expressed alarm over the high infection rate among healthcare personnel, attributing it to potential human-to-human transmission and gaps in infection prevention control practices.

Stephen Hwand, the Chief Medical Director of the teaching hospital, urged residents to strictly observe infection prevention guidelines. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported that the country has seen a total of 1,034 suspected cases and 240 confirmed cases of Lassa fever in 2026, with a case fatality rate of 21.3%.

The NCDC highlighted challenges in rapid detection and response, including high specimen transport costs and logistical issues in remote areas.