The Benue State government on Wednesday confirmed the deaths of three people alongside 12 cases of suspected Lassa fever within one week. 

The state’s Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Yanmar Ortese, who disclosed this in a telephone conversation with our correspondent in Makurdi, said the reported deaths and cases were still based on suspicions. 

Ortese said that the incidents occurred in the Okpokwu Local Government Area of the state within the last week. 

“We have suspected cases of Lassa fever. Three people died with symptoms that depict Lassa fever. 12 samples from people who had close contact with them had been taken and until the result is out, it remains under suspicion. 

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“No confirmed cases yet,” he said. 

The commissioner added that the emergency operations unit of the ministry swung into action immediately and quarantined those affected.