The death toll from Lassa fever in Benue State has risen to 10, as health authorities intensify efforts to contain the outbreak.

The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Msuega Asema, disclosed this on Friday during a visit by the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ejeh-Ogwuche, to isolation centres at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre Apir, where affected patients are currently receiving treatment.

The health commissioner had earlier declared a Lassa fever outbreak in the state following a rise in suspected cases. On February 16, he disclosed that four health workers had died from the disease, with over 60 suspected cases recorded at the time.

However, during the on-the-spot assessment at the two health facilities, Asema revealed that the outbreak had worsened.

“The state is currently facing a devastating outbreak of Lassa fever, with 45 cases confirmed positive and 10 cumulative deaths out of 250 suspected cases reported,” he said.

Asema noted that a significant number of health workers were affected, including five medical doctors, four nurses, two community health extension workers and one hospital porter.

Speaking to journalists, the Commissioner for Health urged residents not to panic, assuring that the government was taking decisive steps to contain the virus since formally declaring the outbreak on February 3.

Ogwuche also addressed patients at the isolation centres, stating that the visit was to assess the situation and demonstrate solidarity with those undergoing treatment.

“We have also come here to assess the situation on ground. So far, five doctors and other health workers are involved in this infection. This is human-to-human transmission, and the gap is infection-prevention lapses,” he said.

“Yes, the data has come up, it looks threatening, but I want to say that the state government under Governor Hyacinth Alia is fully committed and doing all its best to ensure that this condition is contained as soon as possible.”

He said the government had activated necessary containment measures and deployed surveillance officers across the 23 local government areas of the state to strengthen monitoring, contact tracing and community engagement to curb further spread.

The commissioner appealed to residents to promptly report symptoms at designated health facilities for early diagnosis and treatment, stressing that timely intervention is critical in reducing fatalities associated with Lassa fever.

He commended health workers for their dedication and extended condolences to families of those who lost their lives.

Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Stephen Hwande, commended the commissioner for the visit and stated that the hospital had implemented measures to contain the outbreak, urging residents to adhere strictly to infection prevention protocols.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee of the hospital, Prof. Michael Agbir, described the current situation as unusual compared to previous years, revealing that between January and February 2026, the hospital recorded 28 admissions, with 17 confirmed cases on admission and three deaths.

At the Federal Medical Centre, Apir, the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Joseph Kontor, represented by Dr. Uche Augustine Azuka, said the facility’s laboratory had been providing diagnoses for COVID-19, Lassa fever, chickenpox, cholera, hepatitis B and C, among other molecular tests.

He, however, lamented that inadequate power supply was hampering effective service delivery at the isolation centre. According to him, reliance on public electricity has made it difficult to conduct tests consistently and obtain timely results.

He appealed to the Benue State Government to intervene by improving power supply and providing consumables and Personal Protective Equipment, noting that patients are currently being treated and discharged free of charge.