A Lassa fever outbreak has been confirmed in Kano’s Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), with one person dead and another patient isolated after testing positive for the disease.
The hospital received reports of two suspected Lassa fever cases last week, but unfortunately, the first patient died before a blood sample could be collected for laboratory analysis.
The second patient, who walked into the AKTH facility on his own, tested positive for Lassa fever after his blood sample was analyzed, and efforts are underway to trace individuals who had contact with the infected persons.
The patient, whose identity has been withheld, hails from Garun Malam Local Government Area, where health officials are working to contain the spread of the disease.
Following the confirmation of the Lassa outbreak, AKTH management has rolled out emergency measures, including screening individuals for preventive purposes and isolating staff members who exhibit symptoms of fever after contact with infected persons.
Some staff members who had contact with the infected persons are currently under observation, displaying symptoms similar to malaria, which can mimic early signs of Lassa fever, and their blood samples have been sent for laboratory analysis.
The Kano State Ministry of Health has been notified and has deployed a contact tracing team to the affected community in Garun Mallam to prevent further spread of the disease.
According to reports, Kano state has lost three persons to the current Lassa fever outbreak, including two healthcare professionals.
In 2024, Nigeria recorded 1,005 cases of Lassa fever across 28 of the 36 states, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and public awareness about the disease.