The Benue State Government has confirmed 11 cases of Lassa fever, with four fatalities recorded so far.

The state Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists in Makurdi. He said more than 60 suspected cases of the viral infection have been reported across the state.

Ogwuche explained that the government is taking proactive measures to prevent the outbreak from escalating, noting that the state officially declared a Lassa fever outbreak on February 3.

“Lassa fever updates from our dashboard indicate 68 suspected cases, 11 confirmed cases, with three patients currently on admission. Out of the confirmed cases, four deaths have been recorded, and four of those infected are health workers,” he said.

He urged residents to adhere strictly to basic hygiene practices and maintain clean surroundings to reduce the risk of infection.

Speaking on the condition of general hospitals in the state, the commissioner said they are staffed with qualified medical personnel, although Benue is yet to meet the recommended doctor-to-patient ratio.

According to him, the present administration has made significant progress in strengthening the health sector, particularly through manpower development. He said the state teaching hospital has undergone major improvements alongside large-scale recruitment, while staffing of primary healthcare facilities is ongoing.

Ogwuche also provided updates on the cancer centre project, explaining that while progress may appear slow to the public, work is advancing behind the scenes to align building specifications with incoming specialised equipment.

“The project is dear to the governor. The wife of the President, Remi Tinubu, is also deeply interested in it. It was at her instance that the cancer centre is coming,” he said, adding that the facility would greatly ease the burden on cancer patients in the state.

The commissioner further advised residents to avoid overcrowded and poorly ventilated spaces to guard against meningitis, noting that the government has stepped up public health enlightenment campaigns on both meningitis and Lassa fever.

He disclosed that officials have been deployed to communities and churches to educate residents, with support from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, whose team recently visited from Abuja to assist the state’s response efforts.