Lassa Fever claims doctor’s life as Benue activates emergency response

Benue State is again facing an outbreak of Lassa fever, which has led to the death of a physician in the state, Dr Vitalis Tersoo Azever, thereby prompting the health officials to step up their efforts to prevent and respond to the disease.

According to reports, the death occurred after the victim had gone to Plateau State for treatment in the Jos University Teaching Hospital due to complications resulting from the infection.

The unfortunate incident happened just two days after another physician, Dr Cedric Tyoor Kondom, was reported dead at the same facility owing to bone marrow failure.

Commenting on the development on Monday in Makurdi, the commissioner for Health and Human Services in Benue State, Dr Paul Ogwuche, disclosed that the department had started the process of identifying other infected persons as well as sensitizing the populace.

“There is a fresh case of Lassa fever in the state. Only one doctor has died. The victim was buried on Saturday, 20 June 2026,” Ogwuche said.

According to the commissioner, the state was on the verge of declaring the outbreak over after completing the required 42-day incubation period before the new case emerged.

He explained that the deceased had initially managed his illness at home and in a private hospital for more than two weeks before testing positive for Lassa fever.

“For over two weeks, he struggled with the illness. When there was no improvement, one of his friends suspected Lassa fever and conducted a test which came back positive,” Ogwuche said.

The commissioner said medical investigations revealed that the doctor’s kidneys had already been affected, necessitating his referral to JUTH, where he later died.

“We have heightened surveillance across all health facilities and commenced case and contact tracing. We are also stepping up public enlightenment through the media, religious institutions and traditional rulers because they are closer to the communities,” he added.

Ogwuche disclosed that no other Lassa fever patient is currently on admission in any hospital in the state, but noted that authorities would now observe another 42-day incubation period before considering declaring the outbreak over.

Meanwhile, the death of Dr Cedric Tyoor Kondom, a recent medical graduate awaiting induction into the profession in 11 days, has further deepened grief within the medical community.

President of the Moses Orshio Adasu University Medical Alumni Association, Dr Msonter Anzaa, described the deaths of both doctors as devastating.

“It is with a heavy heart that I address you this morning. In the past 48 hours, death tore through our fold and made away with two of us – Dr Vitalis Tersoo Azever and Dr Cedric Tyoor Kondom,” Anzaa said.

He said Azever’s remains were handled by the Benue State Government’s Safe Burial Team before being laid to rest in his hometown in Kwande Local Government Area.

Anzaa also announced a seven-day mourning period and declared that the third week of June would henceforth be observed as the association’s Annual Week of Remembrance in honour of deceased colleagues.

He, however, lamented what he described as persistent shortcomings in Nigeria’s healthcare system and called for renewed advocacy for reforms in the sector.