One Dead, Two Hospitalized as Lassa Fever Hits Kano State

Kano State has reported a fatal case of Lassa fever, with two other individuals testing positive for the infectious disease.

The Kano Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) confirmed that the cases include a doctor and a female patient, both currently receiving treatment in isolation.

Director-General of KNCDC, Prof. Mohammed Adamu, revealed that the deceased was a staff member of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). The victim, a French national, arrived in Nigeria on January 28 and developed fever symptoms about a week later.

“She initially sought medical care and received medication, but her condition worsened after three days, leading to bleeding. She later moved to another hospital but unfortunately passed away the same day,” Prof. Adamu said.

The body was taken to the mortuary at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), where blood samples were tested and confirmed positive for Lassa fever.

Contact tracing indicated that a doctor from Minjibir Local Government Area and another woman who had interacted with the deceased were also infected. Among 62 people identified as contacts across five local government areas, 25 were deemed high-risk. Blood samples showed 22 tested negative, while three were positive, the deceased, the woman at AKTH, and the male doctor at Yargaya isolation center.

Prof. Adamu emphasized that KNCDC has intensified public awareness campaigns in Minjibir and other affected areas. The Ministry of Environment will also fumigate suspected locations to eliminate rats, the primary carriers of Lassa fever, to prevent further spread.