Three people have been confirmed dead from an outbreak of Lassa Fever in Benue State.
The Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Yanmar Ortese during a press conference on Monday declared an outbreak of the disease in the state.
Ortese said there has been a concerning rise in the cases of Lassa Fever in Benue for the past four years.
He said Benue has recorded about 40 suspected cases of the disease with five confirmed infections.
According to him, three people have been confirmed dead and this translates to a 60 per cent Case Fatality Rate (CFR).
Also decrying the increasing cases of snake bites in the state, the commissioner said the General Hospital, Gbajimgba in Guma LGA has recorded 199 cases between July 2024 and December 2024 alone.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and be more careful with the handling of their foods.
Ortese said the state has launched rodent control initiatives to addressed the issues.
