The Benue State Government has intensified efforts to contain the outbreak of Lassa Fever following what authorities describe as an alarming rise in cases across the state.
Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia disclosed this on Thursday, at Government House in Makurdi while receiving a delegation from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, the Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria, and UNICEF during an advocacy visit.
Represented by his deputy, Sam Ode, the governor described the situation as an emergency and stressed that health security remains a priority for his administration. He said the state government would scale up response measures, strengthen waste management in health facilities, and provide additional support to protect health workers and vulnerable populations, particularly those in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Jide Idris, revealed that Benue accounts for 14 of the 39 infections recorded among health workers nationwide. He described the trend as worrisome and called for urgent and coordinated action to halt the spread of the disease.
The Country Representative of the World Health Organization, Pavel Ursu, warned that the loss of health personnel to the disease highlights gaps in the response system. He noted that WHO had already deployed a team to support the state and pledged additional resources to strengthen containment efforts.
Similarly, UNICEF Health Manager Fatima Gohar urged governments at all levels to make treatment for Lassa fever free to encourage early reporting and treatment, as well as to prevent outbreaks in IDP camps.
The advocacy team emphasized the need for improved surveillance, stronger health systems, and better logistics to effectively track and contain the disease in Benue State.