The Benue State Government has officially declared a Lassa fever outbreak after confirming three deaths from five confirmed cases, amidst 40 suspected cases.

The announcement, made by the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Dr. Yanmar Ortese, at a press conference in Makurdi, underscores the severity of the situation and the urgent need for decisive action.

Dr. Ortese disclosed that the three fatalities, representing a 60% Case Fatality Rate (CFR), prompted a comprehensive risk assessment that led to the formal declaration of the outbreak.

“This represents a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 60%, and in light of these alarming figures, a comprehensive risk analysis was conducted, and today (Monday), we officially declare a Lassa fever outbreak in Benue State,” he stated.

The commissioner emphasized that the declaration serves as a critical call to action, demanding immediate, coordinated, and collaborative efforts to protect communities and effectively manage the outbreak.

He urged residents to adhere to preventive measures and seek prompt medical attention if they experience symptoms suggestive of Lassa fever.

The state government is mobilizing resources and coordinating with relevant health agencies to contain the spread of the disease and provide necessary support to affected individuals and communities.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a significant rise in Lassa fever cases, with 80 deaths and 413 confirmed cases across 11 states during Epidemiological Week 6 (February 3–9, 2025). Bauchi State has emerged as a focal point in the ongoing outbreak, with a large number of cases reported, leading to heightened concerns about the virus’s spread.

According to the NCDC, the case fatality rate (CFR) has increased to 19.4%, compared to 17.5% during the same period last year. Bauchi, along with Ondo and Edo states, accounts for the majority of confirmed cases, contributing to 73% of the total reported infections. This surge in cases has raised alarms as the state grapples with the challenges of containing the virus and preventing further fatalities.

While the number of new cases has decreased from 68 in Week 5 to 54 in Week 6, the high fatality rate remains a significant concern. The NCDC reports that the majority of affected individuals are between the ages of 21 and 30, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8. Bauchi has been identified as one of the high-risk areas, with increased efforts being made to improve surveillance, contact tracing, and healthcare worker training in the region.

The NCDC has deployed National Rapid Response Teams (NRRT) to Bauchi and neighboring states to enhance Lassa fever case management. These teams are working to provide essential medical supplies such as personal protective equipment (PPEs), Ribavirin, and thermometers, along with strengthening the response capabilities of local healthcare facilities.

Bauchi’s experience highlights some of the ongoing challenges in managing Lassa fever outbreaks, including delayed case presentations and poor health-seeking behavior in rural communities. Limited awareness and high treatment costs have also been identified as major barriers to effective control. As a result, the NCDC is focusing on community sensitization and raising awareness about early symptoms and the importance of seeking prompt medical care.

The NCDC has partnered with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and the International Research Centre of Excellence (IRCE) to improve diagnosis, treatment, and overall outbreak response in Bauchi and other affected states.

To further curb the spread of the virus, the NCDC has announced a nationwide rodent control and awareness campaign, in collaboration with Breakthrough Action Nigeria (BA-N). The campaign aims to educate communities on the risks of rodent exposure and the importance of proper food storage and hygiene practices.

The NCDC urges residents of Bauchi and other affected states to take preventive measures, including maintaining proper hygiene, avoiding contact with rodents, and seeking medical attention early if symptoms such as fever, sore throat, or unexplained bleeding occur. The public is also advised to stay informed by visiting the NCDC website or calling the toll-free line: 6232.

The Federal Government has announced plans to retain 28,000 health workers whose salaries were previously covered by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), whose activities have been halted by US President Donald Trump.

Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, while speaking on Channels Television’s Hard Copy programme, on Friday, announced that the government is working to absorb the health workers into the country’s healthcare system and reduce reliance on foreign aid.

Mr Pate acknowledged the significant contribution of the US government to Nigeria’s healthcare sector, particularly in the areas of HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

He, however, emphasised that Nigeria is determined to take ownership of its healthcare sector and reduce its dependence on external aid.

“There are health workers, 28,000 of them, who were being paid through US government support. While it has been appreciated, those health workers are Nigerians. We have to find ways to transit them,” he said.

Apart from suspending the USAID which supports healthcare and other development activities across the world, President Trump has also halted the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which supports the global fight against HIV/AIDS.

Following his inauguration on 20 January, President Trump signed multiple executive orders affecting global health funding and significantly impacting developing countries like Nigeria that rely on US assistance for health financing.

Mr Trump signed an order to halt the disbursement of foreign aid to any country for three months. The implementation of this order halted the US global health efforts, including PEPFAR, in low and middle-income countries around the world.

Although PEPFAR was issued a limited waiver a week later, allowing it to restart some services, the situation has remained fluid. PEPFAR is a major programme through which HIV interventions in Nigeria are funded.

The situation was also worsened by the US government’s decision to suspend USAID’s activities. The agency implements many US health programmes in Nigeria and other developing countries.

All USAID interventions in Nigeria and across the world have been suspended with the American president’s team, led by billionaire Elon Musk, saying they are auditing the agency to check waste and corruption in the system.

To mitigate the impact of the US policy shift, the Nigerian Senate recently allocated an additional N300 billion to the health sector in the 2025 budget. This additional budgetary allocation is expected to take care of the 28,000 health workers, among other issues in the sector.

According to Mr Pate, about 70 per cent of the country’s total health expenditure comes from private sources, including out-of-pocket payments by citizens, while only 30 per cent is publicly financed.

“Our total health spends in Nigeria, the total health expenditure: 30 per cent is public, 70 per cent is private,” he said, emphasising the financial burden on individuals seeking medical care.

While external assistance has played a role in supporting healthcare programmes, the minister noted that it is not the primary source of Nigeria’s health funding.

“The component of overseas development assistance for health is not the largest chunk of our health expenditure,” he stated.

However, the reliance on foreign aid for critical services such as HIV, TB, and malaria has made the country vulnerable to shifts in donor policies, as seen with the recent changes in US government funding.

Mr Pate stressed the need for increased domestic investment in healthcare, citing President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises human capital development and increased healthcare funding.

He highlighted the government’s recent approval of nearly $1 billion to improve health service delivery across the country.

“We’ve seen deliberate efforts to mobilise resources to invest in health. Just last week, the Federal Executive Council approved almost a billion dollars in terms of financing for the programme. That is a significant resource that states will implement. It’s a programme for results that will deliver better, but it will take time,” he said.

Mr Pate further highlighted that the government is working to address Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imports for its pharmaceutical needs, noting that the country imports the vast majority of its medical supplies.

“Can you believe that more than 70 per cent of our drugs, we import with foreign exchange that we didn’t have? So, if we can flip it over time. 99 per cent of our medical devices, we import them,” he said.

He acknowledged that reversing this trend will not happen overnight but emphasised that the government is committed to changing the trajectory.

He pointed to efforts aimed at increasing local production of essential medical commodities, including antibiotics, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.

“Now, if we flip that over time, that is not going to take place overnight, but we have to be on that path,” he added.

“Healthcare is not cheap. Quality healthcare is not cheap. You have to invest in it. We as a country had not invested in it, and yet we had been asking for the highest quality health.”