Benue State Ministry of Health has confirmed that four frontline health workers have been infected with Lassa fever in the state.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Health, Paul Ogwuche, said the affected workers include three nurses and one community health worker. He explained that their positive results came amid a steady rise in suspected and confirmed Lassa fever cases across Benue.
Ogwuche said the state government has now officially declared a Lassa fever outbreak and has activated emergency response measures aimed at preventing further spread of the disease.
According to him, the total number of people affected has climbed to 56.
“Of the number, eight cases have been laboratory confirmed, with three deaths among confirmed patients and one additional probable death currently under investigation,” the commissioner said.
He noted that the infection of health workers points to gaps in infection prevention and control, warning that such lapses expose medical personnel to higher risks while carrying out their duties.
The commissioner also expressed grief over the death of a Benue-born medical doctor who reportedly died from Lassa fever while working in Jos, the Plateau State capital, describing the incident as a painful loss to the health sector.
Ogwuche stressed that health facilities must strictly comply with infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols, cautioning that careless practices could endanger both patients and healthcare workers.
He advised residents to remain calm but vigilant, explaining that Lassa fever is commonly spread through contact with infected rodents, as well as their urine and droppings.
The commissioner added that the disease can also be transmitted from person to person, especially in hospitals where infection control is weak.
He urged the public to keep their environment clean, store food properly to prevent rodent infestation, avoid self-medication, and seek medical attention early when symptoms such as persistent fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, or unexplained bleeding appear.
