Lassa fever has claimed the lives 15 persons since its outbreak was declared in Edo State in February 2026.
The Director of Public Health at the Edo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Ojeifo Stevenson Ojeifo, disclosed this in Benin during the State’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre Review meeting.
Ojeifo said the state recorded 1,163 suspected cases of Lassa fever as of May 7, 2026, adding that 82 cases were confirmed, resulting in 15 deaths.
He said the fatalities were recorded in five of the state’s 18 local government areas.
Ojeifo said Etsako West Local Government Area recorded 54 confirmed cases and eight deaths; Esan West recorded 11 cases and three deaths; Akoko-Edo recorded four cases and two deaths; Etsako Central recorded two cases and one death; while Egor Local Government Area recorded two cases and one death.
The director said the state recorded a few confirmed cases of Monkeypox and Dengue fever, but no deaths were reported from either disease.
He attributed the Lassa fever deaths largely to the late presentation of patients at health facilities for diagnosis and treatment.
Ojeifo, however, assured residents that the state government had made adequate preparations for the treatment of Lassa fever cases at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital
