The death toll from the ongoing Lassa fever outbreak in Benue State has risen to 10, according to the State Epidemiologist, Msuega Asema.
Asema disclosed this on Friday during an inspection visit by the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Paul Ejeh-Ogwuche, to isolation centres at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre, Apir, where affected patients are receiving treatment.
He said the state has recorded 45 confirmed cases and 10 deaths out of 250 suspected infections, describing the outbreak as severe. Several health workers have also been affected, including doctors, nurses, community health workers and a hospital porter.
The commissioner, who had earlier declared the outbreak on February 3, said the government has activated containment measures, including deploying surveillance teams across the state’s 23 local government areas to strengthen monitoring, contact tracing and community engagement.
Ogwuche assured residents that the government is committed to containing the outbreak and urged individuals to promptly report symptoms at designated health facilities for early diagnosis and treatment.
Health authorities also appealed for public adherence to infection prevention measures, while hospital officials called for improved support, including better power supply and provision of medical consumables, to enhance response efforts.
