•Lassa fever
The Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche has assured residents of the state that measures were being put in place to contain the spread of the Lassa Fever outbreak in the state.
In an update on the current state of Lassa Fever, the commissioner noted that another health worker in Benue has lost his life to the virus, bringing the total number of health workers in the state that have lost their lives to the disease to 11, adding that 46 of the cases have been confirmed to be positive, reports Daily Independent.
Dr Ogwuche disclosed this during the workshop for the development of the 2026 Annual Operational Plan (AOP), of the Local Action Committee on AIDS (LACA), attended by Coordinators and stakeholders from the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
While he reaffirmed the commitment of the state government to curtailing the spread of the virus, he also stated that government was also working to put an end to issues of AIDS, as a public health threat.
Ogwuche, who was addressing the health workers present at the workshop, noted that “the state has recorded 251 suspected cases of LASSA fever, with 46 confirmed positive cases and 11 deaths”, since the outbreak on February 3, 2026.
He disclosed that 13 healthcare workers have been infected, including five doctors, one pharmacist, four nurses, two Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) and one porter.
The commissioner added that twenty-nine patients were currently on admission at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Makurdi.
He emphasised the importance of early presentation to health facilities, strict infection prevention and control practices, proper food storage, and environmental sanitation.
Ogwuche, who advised residents not to panic, further assured the public that government is fully committed to containing the outbreak, just as he called on health workers to intensify community sensitization efforts and ensure that accurate information reaches the grassroots.
He expressed confidence that through collective vigilance, strong leadership support, and coordinated action, the outbreak will be effectively brought under control.
Appreciating the state governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, for his unwavering support to the health sector, particularly in the face of the current Lassa fever outbreak, he observed that the governor has provided the necessary backing and resources to ensure swift response, improved case management, and enhanced surveillance across the state.
Lassa fever is transmitted mainly through contact with food or items contaminated by infected rodents, as well as through contact with bodily fluids of infected persons. Symptoms include fever, weakness, headache, sore throat, vomiting, and in severe cases, bleeding.
Similarly, the commissioner explained that the LACA 2026 AOP, was a strategic roadmap toward achieving UNAIDS’ 95-95-95 targets, emphasizing that the fight against HIV and AIDS must be driven strongly at the grassroots level.
He commended the Benue State Action Committee on AIDS and development partners for their sustained technical and financial support in strengthening local response mechanisms across communities.
