By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The Plateau State Government has activated an emergency public health response following the death of four persons from Lassa fever and the confirmation of 11 cases across seven local government areas of the state.
The affected local government areas are Quanpan, Shendam, Wase, Langtang South, Jos North, Jos South and Mangu.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, disclosed this on Saturday during a press briefing at the Ministry of Health in Jos, where he outlined the state’s containment measures.
Dr Baamlong said the outbreak was first reported on December 20, 2025, from Quanpan Local Government Area, prompting the immediate activation of the state’s Incident Management Team.
He explained that the initial two confirmed cases led to aggressive contact tracing, with 69 contacts identified, resulting in 16 suspected cases, five of which tested positive.
Providing an update for 2026, the commissioner said 28 suspected cases have so far been recorded this year, with six newly confirmed cases, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 11.
According to him, the outbreak has claimed four lives, including a medical practitioner who was infected while attending to a patient. He added that another doctor is currently hospitalised and responding to treatment.
He said two deaths were recorded at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, while one death each occurred at the Plateau Specialist Hospital and the Bingham University Teaching Hospital.
Dr Baamlong further disclosed that 109 contacts are currently under active follow-up, as the state intensifies surveillance, active case search and the deployment of rapid response teams to affected communities.
He assured residents that treatment drugs and personal protective equipment have been supplied to health facilities, noting that adequate stocks are available at the Jos University Teaching Hospital and the Plateau Specialist Hospital.
The commissioner urged residents to observe preventive measures and seek early medical attention when symptoms occur, stressing that community cooperation remains vital to containing the outbreak.