Medical practitioner in Benue succumbs to Lassa fever amid new wave of infections

A medical doctor from the AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria's Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State has succumbed to complications arising from Lassa fever, marking a significant incident in the region.

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State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ejeh-Ogwuche, announced this development on Monday in Makurdi, highlighting that the ministry promptly initiated contact tracing and surveillance measures in response to the case.

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According to Dr Ejeh-Ogwuche, the deceased doctor battled the illness for over two weeks before his condition took a turn for the worse, ultimately leading to his demise.

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The commissioner revealed that the state was on the cusp of being declared Lassa fever-free when the doctor's case emerged, with the death occurring just as this milestone was within reach.

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Dr Ejeh-Ogwuche disclosed that the deceased doctor, who was employed by the APIN Foundation in Konshisha Local Government Area and originally from Kwande Local Government Area, passed away and was buried on Saturday, June 20, 2026.

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The commissioner explained that the doctor's friend suspected Lassa fever after his condition failed to improve over two weeks, and a subsequent test confirmed this suspicion.

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Despite the ministry's insistence that the doctor be admitted to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi for thorough evaluation, he opted for home treatment with drugs and injections.

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Initial investigations indicated that the deceased doctor had pre-existing kidney complications, prompting a referral to the University of Jos Teaching Hospital in Plateau State, where he eventually succumbed to his illness.

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Following the doctor's death, his remains were transported back and buried in accordance with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention's burial protocols on Saturday.

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In response to the renewed outbreak, the ministry has intensified public awareness campaigns and reactivated response measures across communities, according to Dr Ejeh-Ogwuche.

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Health authorities have been placed on high alert due to recent updates on other infectious disease threats, including Ebola, with surveillance being strengthened across health facilities, the commissioner added.

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The ministry has undertaken sensitisation efforts, checked facilities, and heightened surveillance, with case investigation and contact tracing also commencing, Dr Ejeh-Ogwuche stated.

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The state had nearly completed a 42-day incubation monitoring period and was close to declaring the outbreak over when the new case emerged, necessitating a fresh cycle of observation before any declaration can be made, the commissioner noted.