The Benue state Ministry of Health says at least four frontline health workers in the state have been infected with Lassa fever.
In a statement on Wednesday, Paul Ogwuche, commissioner for health in Benue, said three nurses and a community health worker tested positive for Lassa fever, following a steady increase in suspected and confirmed cases across the state.
Ogwuche said the state has officially declared a Lassa fever outbreak and activated emergency response measures to curb further transmission.
He also said the number of those affected by the disease has risen 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 said the infection of health workers indicated gaps in prevention and control which, according to him, exposes the heightened risks faced by medical personnel on the frontline of care.
He also mourned a Benue-born medical doctor who recently died from Lassa fever while working in Jos, Plateau state capital, describing the death as a painful loss to the health sector.
The commissioner stressed the need for strict adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols in all health facilities, warning that lax practices could further endanger both patients and healthcare providers.
Ogwuche further urged residents to remain calm but alert, noting that Lassa fever is commonly transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their urine and droppings.
He added that it can also spread from person to person, especially in healthcare settings with poor infection control.
He highlighted the need for residents to maintain proper environmental hygiene, store food safely to prevent rodent infestation, avoid self-medication, and report early to health facilities when symptoms such as persistent fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, or unexplained bleeding occur.
