Benue State Government said on Monday that yellow fever was responsible for the mysterious deaths at Okpeilo-Otukpa, Ogbadibo local government area of the state.
As of last week, not less than 20 persons were said to have died from the illness.
State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Ngunan Addingi disclosed this on Monday while briefing newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting.
READ ALSO: CJN Expresses Worries Over Delay In Justice Delivery
Addingi said the result of samples collected and taken to National Reference Laboratory revealed that the disease is yellow fever.
The commissioner said it was discovered that animals shared the same water source with members of the community leading to its contamination.
“Part of the problem we have with the COVID-19 is clustering and people don’t still believe us when we say don’t cluster.
“Also, monkeys and other animals drink from the same water system as them which is the stream. And we believe that when mosquitoes bite the monkey they will also bite the people thereby transferring the yellow fever,” she said.
She therefore said that state government has resolved to vaccinate the people of the community, the council area and neighbouring Okpokwu and Ado local government areas.
She further appealed to the people of Ogbadibo and those in the neighbouring local governments to make themselves available for the vaccination.
She also told journalists that EXCO approved the sum of N62million for the Benue Youth Summit that is billed to hold from November 25th to November 27th.
Each local government is expected to come with 50 youths cutting across all categories; men, women, people living with disabilities among others.
