A Senior Medical Doctor at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BUTH) in Jos, Plateau State and three others have been killed from the effect of contracting Lassa fever.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Baamlong, confirmed this development to Channels Television on Wednesday.
According to Baamlong, emergency response measures have been activated to contain the spread of the viral disease and protect residents.
The deceased doctor, a senior staff member of BUTH, one of the designated treatment centres for Lassa fever in the state, reportedly contracted the virus after performing a caesarean section on an infected patient.
Baamlong further noted that the state government had intensified surveillance and response activities following laboratory confirmation of the cases.
He told Channels Television: “Plateau State has recorded confirmed cases of Lassa fever.
“So far, we have eight laboratory-confirmed cases and three deaths.
“The state government has activated all necessary response mechanisms to contain the outbreak.”
The commissioner added that contact tracing, active surveillance, and public health interventions were ongoing across affected communities and health facilities.
The Chief Medical Director of Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Stephen Anzaku, expressed deep regret over the death of the doctor, describing it as a painful loss to the medical community.
Anzaku said: “It is with deep regret that we lost a senior doctor to Lassa fever.
“Despite being a designated treatment centre and observing established safety protocols, the virus remains highly dangerous, particularly for healthcare workers.”
Nigeria has so far recorded 17 deaths from 39 confirmed Lassa fever cases in 2026.