Five people have been confirmed dead on Friday October 25, by the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) following a Lassa fever outbreak in Benue State, Nigeria.

It was learnt that 21 suspected cases of Lassa fever was received from the state out of which eight cases were confirmed while five infected persons died.

“Since the beginning of the year, there have been 21 suspected cases of Lassa fever in Benue State. Eight cases were confirmed after laboratory tests and five deaths have so far been recorded," Programs Officer, Risk Communications Desk of NCDC, Hanatu Bello said at a news conference in Makurdi.

Hanatu who said the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) has already been activated in the state, further disclosed that the State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) is the only medical facility attending to Lassa fever patients at the moment.