Benue doctor dies of Lassa fever, outbreak response restarts

A senior medical doctor in Benue State has died from Lassa fever, marking a new case just as health authorities were preparing to declare an end to the state's outbreak. Dr. Vitalis Tersoo Azever, who worked with the APIN Public Health Initiatives in Konshisha Local Government Area, died on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at the Jos University Teaching Hospital in Plateau State.

State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, confirmed the death on Monday in Makurdi. He said the doctor had been ill for over two weeks before a friend suggested his symptoms pointed to Lassa fever. A subsequent test confirmed the diagnosis. Ogwuche stated that despite efforts to admit him to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, the doctor initially requested home treatment. He was eventually referred to Jos after investigations revealed kidney complications, where he later died. His body was returned to Benue and buried on Saturday in accordance with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention protocols.

The commissioner said the new case has triggered a fresh response. The state had nearly completed a 42-day incubation monitoring period, which is required before...