Benue Loses Four Health Workers in Growing Lassa Fever Outbreak

The Benue State Government has confirmed that four health workers have died following exposure to Lassa fever in the state, raising fresh concerns about the impact of the outbreak on frontline medical personnel.

The Commissioner for Health, Paul Ogwuche, made the disclosure on Monday during a press briefing in Makurdi. He explained that the state had earlier announced that four frontline health workers, including three nurses and a community health worker, tested positive for the virus. Sadly, all four have now succumbed to the infection.

According to the commissioner, the state officially declared a Lassa fever outbreak a week earlier after recording 53 suspected cases and three deaths. He said the latest figures from the ministry’s dashboard show that the number of suspected cases has risen to over 60, with 11 cases confirmed so far. Out of the confirmed cases, four were health workers who died, while three patients are currently receiving treatment at designated isolation facilities.

Ogwuche said the government is working round the clock to contain the spread of the virus. He noted that response efforts include intensified public sensitisation across communities, improved surveillance, contact tracing and technical support from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has issued a nationwide advisory to healthcare workers as part of efforts to strengthen infection prevention and control measures. The agency said recent findings have shown gaps in safety protocols in some health facilities, including lapses in proper use of protective equipment and risk assessment.

The NCDC urged all health workers to strictly adhere to hand hygiene protocols before and after patient contact, use appropriate personal protective equipment based on the level of exposure risk, ensure safe injection practices, handle laboratory specimens carefully, and maintain proper environmental cleaning and waste disposal systems to prevent further transmission.