Fresh Lassa Fever Outbreak in Benue Leads to Doctor's Demise

Benue State has reported the unfortunate passing of a senior medical practitioner, previously employed by the AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN) within the Konshisha Local Government Area. His death is attributed to severe complications arising from Lassa fever.

Dr. Paul Ejeh-Ogwuche, the State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, verified this incident on Monday in Makurdi. He stated that the ministry has promptly initiated contact tracing and robust surveillance protocols as a direct response to this confirmed case.

According to the Commissioner, the late doctor reportedly struggled with the ailment for more than two weeks before his health significantly deteriorated. Ogwuche further noted that this fatality occurred just as the state was nearing an official declaration of being free from Lassa fever.

“We have a new Lassa fever case in the state,” the commissioner disclosed. “The individual was a medical doctor and was interred last Saturday, June 20, 2026. He was affiliated with the APIN Foundation in Konshisha Local Government Area, although his origins traced back to Kwande Local Government Area.”

He continued, “For more than two weeks, he fought the illness. When his condition showed no signs of improvement, a friend posited that his symptoms were indicative of Lassa fever. Subsequent testing confirmed a positive result.”

“Upon our attempt to admit him at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, he refused, preferring home management with medication and injections. We, however, strongly advised that he be moved to the teaching hospital for a thorough medical assessment,” Ogwuche explained.

The Commissioner further revealed that preliminary inquiries suggested the late doctor was already suffering from kidney complications. “Consequently, we transferred him to the University of Jos Teaching Hospital in Plateau State, where he eventually passed away. His body was then repatriated and interred on Saturday, strictly adhering to the burial guidelines set by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention,” he elaborated.

In the wake of this renewed outbreak, Ogwuche confirmed that the ministry has ramped up its public awareness initiatives and reactivated its emergency response protocols throughout various communities. He also mentioned that health authorities are now on high alert due to recent reports concerning other infectious disease threats, such as Ebola, and surveillance efforts have been reinforced across all health facilities.

“We have consistently conducted sensitisation programmes, assessed our facilities, and enhanced surveillance,” he stated. “For this particular incident, we have also initiated a thorough case investigation and contact tracing.”

The Commissioner underscored that Benue State was on the verge of declaring the Lassa fever outbreak concluded, having successfully completed a 42-day incubation monitoring period. However, with the emergence of this new case, a fresh cycle of observation is now mandatory before any such declaration can be issued.