The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has said that the ‘strange’ disease that recently claimed lives in Benue State is not Lassa fever.

Making the clarification while briefing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, he said preliminary medical investigations confirmed that the disease is not Lassa fever as claimed by some people.

He said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) conducted tests on specimens collected from the affected community and they tested negative to Lassa fever.

Dr. Ehanire said the specimens were also presently being tested in the laboratory to know the origin of the disease.

However, he added that there are indications suggesting that the chemical substance being used for fishing in the affected community could be responsible.

Senators from the state led by Senator Abba Moro earlier raised alarm on the disease urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to respond to check it.