Benue doctor dies from Lassa fever amid new outbreak

A senior doctor with the AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, based in Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State, has died from complications related to Lassa fever.

Dr Paul Ejeh-Ogwuche, the state Commissioner for Health and Human Services, confirmed this on Monday in Makurdi. He said the ministry has started contact tracing and surveillance following this case.

The doctor reportedly fought the illness for more than two weeks before his health got worse. Ogwuche mentioned that this death happened just when the state was about to be declared free of Lassa fever.

He said, “We have a new case of Lassa fever in the state. He was a doctor and was buried last Saturday, June 20, 2026. He worked with APIN Foundation in Konshisha Local Government Area but came from Kwande Local Government Area.

“For over two weeks, he was struggling, and when he showed no signs of improvement, a friend suggested it might be Lassa fever. A test was done, and it came back positive.

“When we wanted to admit him at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi, he refused and asked to be treated at home with medication and injections. We insisted he go to the teaching hospital for proper care.”

The commissioner also revealed that early investigations showed the doctor had kidney problems before the fever struck.

“We referred him to the University of Jos Teaching Hospital in Plateau State, where he passed away. His body was brought back and buried following the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention protocols on Saturday,” he said.

After this latest outbreak, Ogwuche stated that the ministry is stepping up public awareness campaigns and has restarted response measures in communities.

He added that health authorities are on alert due to recent updates about other infectious disease threats, like Ebola, and surveillance has been tightened across health facilities.

“We are doing sensitization, checking our facilities, and increasing surveillance. In this case, we have also begun case investigation and contact tracing,” he said.

He pointed out that the state was close to declaring the outbreak over after finishing a 42-day monitoring period. But now, a new observation cycle must begin before any declaration can be made.