Health authorities in Benue State have confirmed 15 cases of Lassa fever and six related deaths since the beginning of the year, with another nine suspected deaths still under investigation.
The State Epidemiologist and Manager of the Public Health Emergency Operation Centre (PHEOC), Dr. Msuega Asema, disclosed this during a training session organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Makurdi. The event focused on improving Lassa fever response among Community Health Workers and journalists.
Dr. Asema said the state has recorded 156 suspected cases of the disease since February 2025, noting that the outbreak is unusual for continuing into the rainy season. Typically, Lassa fever is more common in the dry season.
“We have not deactivated our response team because we are still seeing cases,” he said.
He explained that the disease is mainly spread through contact with food contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected multimammate rats, common in many homes. Poor food storage practices remain a major factor in the spread.
Out of the total cases, 15 have been confirmed through lab tests, while nine other deaths are considered probable based on symptoms and exposure, although not yet confirmed by lab results.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdulkarim, WHO State Coordinator, said the disease has lingered in Benue for over six years due to inadequate funding and a mostly reactive response.
He called for a shift to prevention, stressing the importance of better health practices, hygiene, and nutrition to reduce the spread of the virus.
Benue remains one of the states in Nigeria frequently affected by Lassa fever, which continues to pose a public health challenge.
