Health authorities in Plateau State have declared an outbreak of Lassa fever after confirming 11 infections and four deaths recorded across seven local government areas since December 2025.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, announced the development during a press briefing on Saturday at the Ministry of Health in Jos, where he detailed the situation and the state’s coordinated response.
According to him, the first alert was received on December 20, 2025. “We were first notified following a case from Quanpan Local Government Area, and immediately, we activated our incident management team,” Baamlong said.
He explained that early investigations uncovered two confirmed cases, triggering wide-ranging contact tracing efforts.
He added, “We initially tracked 69 contacts, from which 16 people were classified as suspected cases and five tested positive. So far, from December till now, we have recorded eleven confirmed positive cases in Plateau State.”
The commissioner also revealed that the outbreak has resulted in four fatalities across the state’s major health facilities.
“Unfortunately, four people have died two at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, one at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, and one at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital,” he said.
One of the deaths involved a medical practitioner who contracted the disease while treating an infected patient.
Among the victims was Dr Salome Oboyi, a senior resident doctor at Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos, who became infected while attending to a patient and died within two weeks of showing symptoms.
Baamlong disclosed that 109 contacts are currently being monitored. “We are intensifying surveillance, conducting active case searches, and deploying rapid response teams to affected communities,” he said.
The affected LGAs include Quanpan, Shendam, Wase, Langtang South, Jos North, Jos South, and Mangu.
He stressed the importance of community awareness in curbing the spread: “We are commencing active public health enlightenment. This is key for suppressing transmission and protecting residents.”
The commissioner assured that the state has adequate medical supplies. “Drugs for treatment and personal protective equipment have been distributed to health facilities, including JUTH and the Plateau Specialist Hospital,” he confirmed.
Residents were urged to maintain hygiene, follow preventive measures, and seek medical care immediately if symptoms emerge.
