Benue State is currently going through a health crisis, as the death toll from Lassa fever cases has risen from 9 to 13. It is to be recalled that earlier this week, News Veo made a news report that there were 46 confirmed cases of Lassa Fever in Benue state with a death rate of 9.
However, the state seems to be going through a health crisis as the death rate from Lassa Fever has risen from 9 to 13 while the confirmed cases have increased from 46 to 55. Not only this, the state is currently experiencing an outbreak of measles with 31 confirmed cases and 256 suspected cases. Also there are about 354 suspected cases of Buruli Ulcer in 11 local government areas in the State.
Apart from the rise in the case of Lassa Fever mortality rate, it has also spread from 7 local government areas to 9 local government areas. This devastating situation that is currently going on in the state was made known on Tuesday by the Benue State Commissioner for health and human resources Dr Yanmar Ortese.
While giving the report, Dr Yanmar Ortese stated that, “The State’s Situation Report of the current outbreak from 1% November 2023 to 2nd March 2024(Epidemiology week 9), shows a total of 725 suspected cases, 55 confirmed cases with 13 deaths, 2 probable cases, and a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 23.6%.
“The disease has spread to nine local government areas of the state, this is against the seven LGAs earlier mentioned by the state epidemiologist.
“The nine LGAs affected, according to the commissioner, are; Makurdi, Guma, Gwer West, Gwer East, Okpokwu, Obi, Ogbadibo, Otukpo, and Ukum.
Speaking about the recent outbreak of measles in the state ,Dr Yanmar Ortese stated that, “The affected LGAs are Buruku Gwer West, Logo, Ushongo and Vandeikya. The state team has responded to the situation and our surveillance officers are following the events very closely.”