From Joseph Uchenna in Makurdi
The Benue Government has confirmed over 250 suspected cases of Lassa Fever out of which 10 deaths recorded and 45 confirmed positive.
The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Msuega Asema, disclosed this on Friday when the State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ejeh-Ogwuche undertook an on-the-spot assessment visit to the isolation centres at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital(BSUTH) Makurdi and Federal Medical Centre, FMC Apir, where the affected victims are currently receiving treatments.
Dr. Asema explained that these figures involved huge number of health workers which includes five medical doctors, four nurses, two community extension workers and one hospital porter, lamenting that there is growing Lassa fever infection amongst health workers in the State.
Speaking at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital and Federal Medical Centre Apir respectively, Dr. Ogwuche urged the people not to be threatened by the figures as government is intensifying effort to contain the disease, having declared a virus outbreak in the state since February 3rd.
Dr. Ogwuche said, he alongside other critical stakeholders of the ministry visited the hospitals to show their solidarity with the victims on admission in those facilities and let them known that they are not alone, as the State government is fully behind them and doing everything possible to see that they recover speedily and get back to their respective homes.
“We have also come here to access the situation on ground. So far, five doctors and other health workers are involved in this infection. This is human to human transmission and the gap is infectious-prevention lapses. So, we have come to see how the centres are doing and how we can move ahead so that we contain the outbreak of Lassa fever quickly in our state.
“Yes, the data has come up, it looks threatening but I want to say that the state government under governor Hyacinth Alia is fully committed and doing all its best to ensure that this condition is contained as soon as possible. We have activated all the necessary measures to bring containment as possible. The State government is committed and ready as all necessary resources are be mobilised to contain the disease”, Ogwuche stated.
He announced that already, the ministry had deployed its surveillance officers across the 23 LGAs of the State to strengthen monitoring, contact tracing, and render community engagement towards curbing further spread of the virus.and appealed to individuals to immediately report symptoms at designated health facilities for early diagnosis and treatment, stressing that timely intervention remains critical in reducing fatalities associated with Lassa fever.
Ogwuche commended the health workers for their dedication and sacrifice and sympathized with the families of those who lost their lives, assuring of government commitment to containing the outbreak.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi, Dr. Stephen Hwande, while giving an update on measures taken to contain the outbreak, commended the commissioner for the visit, stating that the hospital has put favourable measures in place to contain the disease and enjoined residents to strictly adhere to infection prevention protocols.
According to him, there is immediate need for intervention to upgrade the isolation centres in the State with patient monitors, improved waste management systems and other essential equipment, including setting up a functional emergency laboratory within the centre for on-site testing.
The Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee of the hospital, Prof. Michael Agbir, lamented that the situation has become unusual compared to previous years, revealing that between January and February 2026, the hospital recorded 28 admissions, with 17 confirmed cases on admission and three deaths
On his part, while conducting the honourable commissioner and his entourage round the molecular laboratory where all the Lassa fever tests are being carried out and the isolation centre at the Federal Medical Center Apir, the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Joseph Kontor, said that the lab has been providing diagnosis for covid, Lassa, chicken pox, cholera and hepatitis B, C and other molecular tests.
Prof. Kontor who was represented by Dr. Uche Augustine Azuka lamented that inadequate power supply has continue to hamper effective services at the isolation centre.
He explained that since the hospital rely on public power supply, it has become practically impossible for the hospital to conduct test at regular times and obtain results as at when due and appealed to the Benue State government to intervene in that regard.
He further urged the State government to assist the hospital with consumables and provision of Personal Protection Equipment(PPE), hence patients are being treated and discharged free of charge.
“The issue of Lassa fever outbreak is something that affected everyone of us. When it was first reported and when the isolation centre at the teaching was shutdown, almost all our patients were be referred to Keffi in Nasarawa State. So, we thought it wise to activate this centre here. But the treatment of these patients is putting a lot of financial body on us.
“I learnt that in other states there is form of cost sharing where the State government pays 60% and patient pays 40%. Sustainability without fund is a big challenge. The fund either comes from government or the patients. Before we were providing everything but it has become impossible to that that. There should be a clear policy of people be manage at isolation centre. If government is making it 100% free it come out clearly and if is saying that patients should handle part of bills, then let it say clearly. FMC Makurdi needs support of the State government”, Kontor added.
The coordinator of the isolation centre and Head of clinical services FMC, Dr. Michael Odoh, disclosed that 10 patients are currently at the facility out of which, two are suspected and eight confirmed, while out of these confirmed cases, four are health workers, two nurses, one doctor and a porter who are all doing well.
“Apart from those at the isolation centre, we still have three doctors who are in self-isolation and also doing well with treatment”, Odoh said.
