The Benue State Government has placed about 50 people under surveillance following the death of a 54-year-old woman from Lassa fever, the state’s Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, disclosed on Thursday.
The deceased, from Ogbadibo Local Government Area, reportedly died on Sunday at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, where laboratory results confirmed Lassa fever.
According to reports, the woman’s remains were taken to a private morgue in Ugbokolo, Okpokwu LGA, but were later forcefully removed by community youths during burial preparations.
Dr. Ogwuche said he personally led a high-powered health and security delegation to the affected communities to restore order and ensure a safe burial.
“Through dialogue with the family, traditional rulers, and youth leaders, the body was successfully retrieved and buried safely in Orokam by the State Safe Burial Team, in line with WHO and NCDC protocols,” the commissioner said.
He confirmed that the private hospital and morgue where the corpse had been kept were temporarily closed for decontamination and epidemiological investigations.
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“About 50 contacts have been identified and are under strict surveillance,” Ogwuche stated, adding that community sensitisation and hygiene campaigns had been launched across Ogbadibo and Okpokwu LGAs.
He urged residents to avoid handling corpses of suspected infectious disease victims and to report symptoms such as persistent fever or bleeding immediately.
In a related development, the Benue State Epidemiologist, Dr. Asema Msuega, earlier reported that as of September 2025, the state had recorded 243 suspected cases and 13 deaths, including that of a health worker.
Msuega added that 18 cases were laboratory-confirmed, while others were classified as probable.
Dr. Ogwuche assured the public that the government remains fully committed to preventing secondary infections and protecting citizens’ health.
