Benue records 10 health worker deaths as Lassa Fever outbreak worsens

The Benue State Government has confirmed the death of 10 health workers following a recent outbreak of Lassa fever in the state, with five of the victims identified as medical doctors.

The development was disclosed in a report by African Independent Television on Friday, which cited officials of the state epidemiology unit.

According to the state epidemiologist, Asema Msuega, Benue has recorded 250 suspected cases of Lassa fever, out of which 45 have been laboratory confirmed.

Fresh epidemiological data showed a rise in infections, prompting the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Paul Ogwuche, to visit Benue State University Teaching Hospital to assess the situation.

Msuega described the high rate of infection among healthcare personnel as alarming, noting that it suggests possible human-to-human transmission. He attributed the development to lapses in infection prevention and control practices within health facilities.

The Chief Medical Director of the teaching hospital, Stephen Hwande, urged residents to strictly observe preventive guidelines, stating that the hospital had strengthened safety protocols to curb further spread of the virus.

The state government commended healthcare workers for their commitment and sacrifices, while reiterating its determination to contain the outbreak.

The situation in Benue reflects wider concerns over rising Lassa fever infections across Nigeria. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has identified several challenges affecting rapid detection and response in some states, including high specimen transportation costs, inconsistent reporting, and weak data validation systems.

The agency’s Director-General, Jide Idris, noted that transporting samples from remote communities to laboratories remains expensive and logistically difficult, especially in hard-to-reach areas, delaying confirmation and response efforts.

In its latest situation report, the NCDC recorded 74 new confirmed cases in Epidemiological Week 6 (February 2–8, 2026), compared with 44 cases in Week 5.

The cases were reported in Taraba, Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Ebonyi states.

Within the same period, 271 suspected cases and 15 deaths were documented, with a case fatality rate of 20.3 percent among confirmed infections.

The agency also confirmed that two additional healthcare workers contracted the virus during the week, raising concerns about compliance with infection prevention and control measures in medical facilities.

Between Epidemiological Week 1 and Week 6 of 2026, Nigeria recorded 1,034 suspected cases, 240 confirmed cases, and four probable cases across 10 states and 42 local government areas.

During the period, 51 deaths were recorded among confirmed cases, representing a case fatality rate of 21.3 percent — higher than the 19.4 percent recorded within the same period in 2025.

Despite the increase in fatalities, the NCDC noted that the overall number of suspected and confirmed cases so far in 2026 remains lower than figures recorded during the corresponding period last year.