The Plateau State Government has confirmed a Lassa fever outbreak in seven local government areas, with 11 cases recorded so far and four deaths.
The affected LGAs are Quanpan, Shendam, Wase, Langtang South, Jos North, Jos South and Mangu.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Baamlong, disclosed this on Saturday during a press briefing in Jos, where he outlined the situation and the state’s response.
Baamlong said the state was first alerted to the outbreak on December 20, 2025, after a case was reported in Quanpan LGA. He noted that the state immediately activated its Incident Management Team.
“Initially, two cases were confirmed. We traced about 69 contacts, identified 16 suspected cases, and five later tested positive,” he said.
Providing an update for 2026, the commissioner revealed that 28 suspected cases have been documented, with six confirmed.
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“In total, from December till now, we have confirmed 11 cases of Lassa fever in Plateau State,” he added.
The outbreak has claimed four lives across major health facilities in the state — two at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, one at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, and one at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital.
Baamlong disclosed that one of the deceased was a medical doctor who managed an infected patient, while another doctor is currently on admission and receiving treatment.
He said 109 contacts are presently under follow-up as health authorities intensify surveillance and response measures in affected communities.
“Our focus now is active case search through surveillance, deploying rapid response teams, and strengthening public health awareness to curb transmission,” he said.
The commissioner assured residents that treatment drugs and personal protective equipment have been supplied to health facilities, particularly the Jos University Teaching Hospital and the Plateau Specialist Hospital.
He urged residents to observe preventive measures strictly and seek prompt medical attention if they notice symptoms, stressing that collective vigilance is key to containing the outbreak.