Four frontline health workers have tested positive for Lassa fever in Benue as the state declares an outbreak and activates emergency response measures.
The Benue State Ministry of Health has confirmed that at least four frontline health workers have been infected with Lassa fever, amid a growing outbreak across the state.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Health, Paul Ogwuche, said three nurses and one community health worker tested positive for the viral disease following a steady rise in suspected and confirmed cases.
Ogwuche announced that the state government has officially declared a Lassa fever outbreak and activated emergency response measures to contain further spread.
According to him, the total number of affected persons has risen to 56. Of this figure, eight cases have been laboratory confirmed, with three deaths recorded among confirmed patients. He added that one additional probable death is currently under investigation.
The commissioner warned that the infection of health workers exposed serious gaps in infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, underscoring the heightened risk faced by medical personnel on the frontline.
He also expressed grief over the death of a Benue-born medical doctor who reportedly died of Lassa fever while working in Jos, Plateau State, describing the loss as devastating to the health sector.
Ogwuche stressed the urgent need for strict compliance with IPC protocols in all health facilities, cautioning that lax practices could further endanger patients and healthcare providers.
He urged residents to remain calm but vigilant, explaining that Lassa fever is commonly transmitted through contact with infected rodents, their urine or droppings. He noted that human-to-human transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings with poor infection control.
The commissioner advised residents to maintain proper environmental hygiene, store food securely to prevent rodent infestation, avoid self-medication, and seek early medical attention if symptoms such as persistent fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding occur.
