A senior medical doctor working with the AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN) has died from complications arising from Lassa fever, prompting Benue State health authorities to intensify surveillance and response measures.
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ejeh-Ogwuche, disclosed this on Monday in Makurdi, stating that contact tracing and investigations have commenced to prevent further spread of the disease.
According to him, the deceased doctor, who served in Konshisha Local Government Area and hailed from Kwande Local Government Area, was ill for more than two weeks before being diagnosed with Lassa fever.
Ogwuche explained that despite recommendations for specialist medical care, the doctor initially sought treatment outside a hospital setting.
“He had been sick for over two weeks, and when his condition failed to improve, a colleague suspected Lassa fever. Samples were taken, and the test result came back positive,” the commissioner said.
He added that efforts were made to admit the patient to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, but he chose to continue treatment at home. As his condition worsened, further medical examinations revealed kidney-related complications.
The doctor was subsequently referred to the University of Jos Teaching Hospital in Plateau State, where he later died.
His remains were returned to Benue and buried on Saturday, June 20, 2026, in line with the burial protocols of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The commissioner noted that the development comes at a time when Benue State was close to completing its monitoring period and preparing to declare the Lassa fever outbreak under control.
“With this new case, the state must restart the observation period before any declaration can be made,” Ogwuche stated.
In response, the state government has intensified public awareness campaigns, strengthened disease surveillance across health facilities, and placed healthcare workers on high alert.
He also revealed that the government is maintaining vigilance against other infectious diseases, including Ebola, through continuous surveillance and preparedness efforts.
Health authorities have urged residents to remain alert, observe preventive measures, and promptly report suspected symptoms as efforts continue to contain the disease and prevent further transmission.
