By Ado Oyeyemi
The Benue State Government has confirmed the death of a medical doctor, Dr Vitalis Tersoo Azever, following complications arising from Lassa fever, raising fresh concerns over a resurgence of the viral disease in the state.
Azever, who worked with APIN Public Health Initiatives in Konshisha Local Government Area, died while receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital in Plateau State after battling the illness for more than two weeks.
His death came barely two days after another young doctor, Dr Cedric Tyoor Kondom, reportedly died from bone marrow failure at the same hospital, plunging the medical community in Benue into mourning.
Speaking with journalists in Makurdi on Monday, the Commissioner for Health and Human Resources, Dr Paul Ogwuche, confirmed the Lassa fever fatality and disclosed that authorities had commenced contact tracing and intensified surveillance across the state.
According to him, the state was preparing to declare the outbreak over after completing the mandatory 42-day monitoring period before the latest case emerged.
Ogwuche explained that the deceased initially managed his illness at home and in a private hospital before a test later indicated he had contracted Lassa fever.
He said efforts were made to admit him at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, but the doctor was initially reluctant and preferred home-based treatment.
The commissioner noted that further medical investigations revealed that Azever’s kidneys had already been affected by the disease, prompting his referral to the Jos University Teaching Hospital, where he eventually died.
“The victim was buried on Saturday, June 20, 2026. He worked with APIN in Konshisha but hailed from Kwande Local Government Area. At present, no other patient is on admission in any hospital in the state due to Lassa fever,” Ogwuche said.
He added that health officials had heightened disease surveillance, activated emergency response measures and launched community sensitisation campaigns to prevent further spread of the virus.
The commissioner said religious leaders, traditional rulers and community stakeholders would be engaged in awareness campaigns aimed at improving early detection and reporting of suspected cases.
“We had almost concluded the 42-day incubation monitoring period before this case surfaced. Since this is the only confirmed case for now, another 42-day observation period will be required before the outbreak can be declared over,” he added.
Meanwhile, the President of the Moses Orshio Adasu University Medical Alumni Association, Dr Msonter Anzaa, described the deaths of Azever and Kondom as a painful loss to the medical profession.
In a statement to members, Anzaa said Azever was an active medical practitioner, while Kondom was a recent medical graduate awaiting induction into the profession in less than two weeks.
He said the association had declared a seven-day mourning period in honour of the deceased doctors and announced that the third week of June would henceforth be observed as its Annual Week of Remembrance.
Anzaa also expressed concern over persistent challenges within Nigeria’s healthcare system, urging medical professionals and stakeholders to continue advocating reforms aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery across the country.
