Manny Ita-
The Benue State Ministry of Health has officially declared an outbreak of Lassa fever following a sharp rise in infections that has claimed four lives and disproportionately affected frontline medical personnel. State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, confirmed during a press conference on February 3, 2026, that the state has recorded 56 suspected cases, with eight laboratory-confirmed. Among the fatalities are three laboratory-confirmed patients and one probable case, resulting in a case fatality rate of 37.5%. Highlighting the occupational hazards of the surge, Ogwuche noted that four of the confirmed cases are healthcare professionals, including three nurses and one community health worker, stating that the situation “underscores the heightened occupational risk faced by frontline health workers.”
The medical community in the North-Central region was further thrown into mourning following the death of Dr. Salome Oboyi, a Senior Resident in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BHUTH) in Jos, Plateau State. Dr. Oboyi, who was originally from Benue State, reportedly succumbed to the viral hemorrhagic fever on February 2, 2026, after contracting the virus from a patient under her care. The Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Baamlong, confirmed the incident and disclosed that the state is currently managing additional confirmed cases. In response to the loss, the Benue State government extended its “deepest condolences to her family, colleagues, and the medical communities of both Benue and Plateau States,” lamenting the loss of a dedicated professional in the line of duty.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has warned of a significant spike in Lassa fever cases across the country in early 2026, with a national case fatality rate significantly higher than the previous year. Health authorities attribute the high mortality to late presentation at health facilities and have urged the public to report symptoms such as persistent high fever, muscle pain, and unexplained bleeding immediately. “The infection of health workers indicated gaps in prevention and control which exposes the heightened risks faced by medical personnel,” Commissioner Ogwuche added, stressing the urgent need for strict adherence to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocols. Emergency response measures and intensified surveillance have been activated across both states to curb further transmission during the peak of the dry season.
