The Benue State Government has confirmed three persons dead with a 60% fatality rate as it declared the outbreak of Lassa fever.

It confirmed five cases out of the forty suspected cases reported in the state.

The Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services Yanmar Ortese disclosed this at a briefing in Makurdi.

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Already, a ten-member National Rapid Response Team (NRRT) has been deployed to Benue State to support the response efforts.

This team is led by the Nigeria Centre Disease Control (NCDC) National Incident Manager for Lassa fever Yetunde Abioye. It is working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen control measures and improve the general health concerns in Benue State.