Lassa Fever Claims Nine Lives in Benue State

In the past two months, Benue State has sadly lost nine lives to Lassa fever, as confirmed by State Epidemiologist Dr. Sam Ngishe during a recent discussion with journalists. This news follows the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s report of 2,621 suspected cases of Lassa fever nationwide, resulting in 84 fatalities and a case fatality rate of 18.6 percent.

Among the affected are 46 individuals, including both health workers and internally displaced persons, scattered across the state. Specifically, four cases have emerged among internally displaced persons at Ortese IDP camp in Guma Local Government Area.

Dr. Ngishe revealed that the disease has spread to seven out of Benue State’s 23 local government areas, citing Obi, Okpokwu, Gwer West, Makurdi, Guma, Gwer East, and Ukum as affected regions.

He emphasized that the deceased have been laid to rest in adherence to safe burial protocols in their respective communities across the state.