50 Under Surveillance After Lassa Fever Outbreak Hits Benue

The Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services has revealed that over 50 individuals have been identified through contact tracing after the hijacking of a Lassa fever victim’s corpse in Benue State.

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, made this known in a telephone interview saying that all the identified individuals are under strict surveillance.

The victim, a 54-year-old woman from Ogbadibo local government area, died of confirmed Lassa fever at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) last Sunday while a safe burial team was dispatched to carry out burial protocols according to World Health Organisation (WHO) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines.

However, the team encountered resistance from agitated youths who forcefully took away the corpse but high-powered delegation led by Dr Ogwuche successfully retrieved the body and ensured a safe burial in Orokam, Ogbadibo LGA.

The state ministry of health has said it has intensified surveillance in Ogbadibo and neighbouring Okpokwu local government areas, with hospital staff and individuals who had contact with the deceased placed under medical surveillance.

“All community and facility contacts have been identified, and health education sessions have been conducted across Ogbadibo and Okpokwu LGAs to enhance awareness, promote hygiene, and prevent panic,” he said.
The commissioner commended the cooperation of local government chairmen, traditional rulers, and security operatives, even as he said that government would not in any way tolerate actions by relations and community members capable of endangering health of others.
He appealed to residents to refrain from handling corpses of persons who die from suspected infectious diseases and to promptly report any cases of prolonged fever or unexplained bleeding to the nearest health facility.