Benue State Deploys 23 Surveillance Officers to Curb Lassa Fever Spread
In a proactive measure to combat a rising Lassa fever outbreak, the Benue State Government has deployed 23 dedicated surveillance officers to all 23 local government areas. The initiative, announced by the State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, aims to bolster disease monitoring, enhance contact tracing, and drive grassroots sensitisation efforts to halt further transmission of the virus.
Dr. Ogwuche made the announcement during an inspection tour of the isolation facility at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) in Makurdi. He acknowledged the increasing number of infections and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to stepping up containment strategies across the state. A central pillar of this strategy is urging the public to present immediately at designated health centres upon experiencing symptoms, with the commissioner stressing that early detection and prompt treatment are vital to reducing the disease’s fatality rate.
The commissioner’s visit followed expressions of concern from hospital leadership regarding the current caseload. The Chief Medical Director of BSUTH, Dr. Terungwa Stephen Hwande, reported that the hospital had documented 28 suspected Lassa fever cases as of February 2026. Dr. Hwande praised the commissioner’s visit and highlighted that the hospital administration has already strengthened its infection prevention and control protocols in response to the outbreak. He appealed for swift state government support to upgrade the isolation unit with essential patient monitoring devices, an improved waste disposal system, and other critical medical equipment. Additionally, plans are underway to establish a fully operational emergency laboratory within the isolation centre to enable immediate on-site testing, a move intended to significantly shorten diagnostic delays.
The scale of the outbreak is underscored by epidemiological data. The Benue State Epidemiologist, Dr. Msuega Asema, confirmed that as of February 26, 2026, the state had recorded 45 laboratory-confirmed Lassa fever cases, derived from 250 suspected cases. These cases have resulted in 10 deaths to date. The deployment of surveillance officers to every local government area represents a targeted expansion of the state’s outbreak response, seeking to identify and isolate cases swiftly in both urban and rural communities to break chains of transmission and prevent further loss of life.
