The Benue State Epidemiologist, Dr. Asema Msuega, has reported that the state recorded 243 suspected cases of Lassa fever from January to date. Out of these, 18 cases were confirmed, resulting in five confirmed deaths.
He added that eight other people who showed symptoms died before they could be tested, making them “probable” cases.
This brings the total number of deaths to 13, including one health worker.
Benue carries out awareness against Lassa
To control the spread of the disease, Dr. Asema said the Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), launched a community intervention project in August 2025.
The campaign targeted Lassa fever hotspots and focused on rodent control, environmental sanitation, and clean-up activities. These efforts extended to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps as well.
In addition, the state carried out awareness campaigns and trained community health workers on how to identify, manage, and refer suspected cases effectively.
