Benue witnesses upsurge in Lassa fever as cases hit 30, says health commissioner

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Benue State has continued to witness upsurge in Lassa Fever with about 30 suspected cases, seven laboratory-confirmed cases, and three deaths recorded so far.

The State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, made this disclosure during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Information and Orientation, where he led a delegation from the Ministry of Health accompanied by the State Infection Prevention and Control, IPC Focal Person, Professor Audu Onyemocho, and the Benue State Epidemiologist, Dr. Asema Msuega.

Dr Ogwuche emphasized the critical role of accurate information in effective public health response, noting that misinformation and poor health awareness significantly worsen disease outcomes.

He stressed that public health success depends on multi-sectoral collaboration, adding that disease prevention and control cannot be handled by the Ministry of Health alone.

He expressed concern over the infection of health workers in the line of duties, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen Infection Prevention and Control, IPC measures across all health facilities in the state.

The health commissioner said to address the situation, the Ministry of Health is seeking strong collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Orientation to disseminate timely and accurate health education through radio, television, print, and digital platforms.

He noted that the public must be educated on modes of transmission, early symptoms, preventive measures, and the importance of early presentation to health facilities.

He also, disclosed that the State Emergency Operations Centre, EOC has been activated, while public enlightenment campaigns have already commenced,adding that a press conference has been scheduled to further brief the public on the outbreak and preventive measures.

While oroviding historical context, Professor Audu Onyemocho noted that Lassa fever was first recorded in Benue State in 2018, explaining that the disease is zoonotic, transmitted mainly through contact with infected rats or contaminated food items, and typically peaks between November and April.

Professor Onyemocho added that while about 80 percent of infections may be asymptomatic, the remaining cases can become severe, posing significant risks to both patients and healthcare workers.

He disclosed that ongoing training and refresher courses on infection prevention, hand hygiene, and case management are being conducted for health workers to curb further infections.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dr. Peter Egbodo, reaffirmed his Ministry’s commitment to supporting health initiatives, combating misinformation, and providing media waivers for health emergency messages, stressing the importance of continuous public education on Lassa fever prevention, even outside peak outbreak periods.

Dr Egbodo assured that government-approved health messages would be disseminated regularly and pledged collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to ensure coordinated and responsible reporting.

He assured that the Benue State Government remains committed to protecting public health, strengthening inter-ministerial collaboration, and deploying effective communication strategies to safeguard the people of Benue State.