Benue records fresh Lassa Fever death as Doctor succumbs to virus ...state govt launches contact tracing, suspends plans to declare outbreak over

By Adun Adetutu

The Benue State Government has confirmed a fresh outbreak of Lassa fever following the death of a senior medical doctor attached to the APIN Foundation in Konshisha Local Government Area.

Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ejeh-Ogwuche, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists in Makurdi, saying health authorities had activated emergency response measures, including contact tracing and intensified surveillance.

The latest development, he said, came at a time the state was preparing to declare the outbreak over after completing the mandatory 42-day observation period.

According to the commissioner, the deceased, who hailed from Kwande Local Government Area, battled the illness for more than two weeks before seeking specialist treatment.

"There is a fresh case of Lassa fever in the state. Only one doctor has died. The victim was buried on Saturday, June 20, 2026," Ogwuche said.

"He worked with the APIN Foundation in Konshisha Local Government Area of the state but hailed from the Kwande axis."
The commissioner explained that the doctor initially treated himself at home and at a private hospital before colleagues suspected Lassa fever.

"For over two weeks, he was struggling with the illness. When there was no improvement, one of his friends observed that his symptoms were suggestive of Lassa fever, and a test conducted on him came back positive," he said.

Ogwuche said the doctor initially declined admission at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), preferring to receive treatment at home.

"When we wanted to admit him at the teaching hospital, he requested drugs and injections for home treatment, but we insisted that proper hospital management was necessary," he said.

He said medical investigations later showed that the victim had developed kidney complications, leading to his referral to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

"Baseline investigations revealed that his kidneys were already affected, so we referred him to Jos. He eventually died there, and his remains were brought back and buried on Saturday," Ogwuche stated.

The commissioner said no other confirmed case is currently receiving treatment in any health facility across the state.

"So far, there is no other person on admission in any hospital in the state. In fact, we had planned to declare the outbreak over before this case emerged," he added.

He assured residents that the ministry had stepped up surveillance and public sensitisation campaigns across communities.

"We have activated case and contact tracing and intensified awareness campaigns. We are engaging the media and planning to work with churches, mosques and traditional rulers because they are closer to the people at the grassroots," he said.

Ogwuche noted that the fresh case had disrupted the state's plan to officially end monitoring of the outbreak.

"We were about to declare the outbreak over after observing the 42-day incubation period, but this new case means we have to restart the countdown," he said.

The commissioner warned that while Lassa fever is generally seasonal, there were growing concerns that the disease could become endemic if preventive measures were not sustained.

"We are beginning to see signs that it may become endemic, even though it has a seasonal pattern. That is why continuous public education is critical," he added.

Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted mainly through exposure to food or household items contaminated by infected rodents. Early symptoms include fever, weakness, headache, sore throat and vomiting, while severe cases can lead to organ failure and death if not promptly treated.