The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Msuega Asema, revealed this on Friday when the state Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ejeh-Ogwuche, visited the isolation centres at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi and Federal Medical Centre, Apir where the affected victims are currently receiving treatments.
The health commissioner had earlier in the month formally declared the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state following the rise in figure of suspected cases.
On February 16, the commissioner in a chat with journalists in his office disclosed that four health workers had lost their lives to the dreaded disease while over 60 cases suspected.
But during the on-the-spot assessment of the situation at the University Teaching Hospital and Federal Medical Centre, the state epidemiologist revealed that the state is currently facing devastating outbreak of Lassa fever.
Asema said, “The state is currently facing devastating outbreak of Lassa fever, with 45 cases confirmed positive and 10 cumulative mortality out of 250 suspected cases reported.”
He explained that the figures, unfortunately, involved huge number of health workers which include, five medical doctors, four nurses, two community extension workers and one hospital porter.
