The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) has issued a public health alert, warning residents of an increased risk of Lassa fever transmission as the country enters its peak season for the viral disease.
The Director-General of the Centre, Dr. Muhammad Adamu Abbas, said in a statement on Sunday that the alert followed a national advisory from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), which projected a rise in infections between October and May.
“With Kano’s ecological and environmental conditions, the state remains vulnerable to possible outbreaks,” Abbas said, urging residents to maintain strict hygiene and adhere to preventive measures.
Authorities advised the public to keep their homes clean, store food in tightly covered containers, and seal possible entry points for rodents — the primary carriers of the virus. Individuals experiencing persistent fever or related symptoms were urged to seek immediate medical attention.
The state government has activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) to coordinate response efforts. Abbas said the KNCDC has also begun distributing essential medical supplies, including personal protective equipment and antiviral drugs, while training health workers on case management and infection prevention.
“Community sensitization and rodent control campaigns are ongoing in high-risk local government areas under the state’s One Health response framework,” the statement added.
Abbas reassured residents that Lassa fever is both preventable and treatable if detected early, calling for community cooperation to keep the state free of infections this season.
Lassa fever, an acute viral haemorrhagic illness, is transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated with the urine or faeces of infected rodents. Human-to-human transmission can also occur through exposure to the blood or bodily fluids of infected individuals.
Common symptoms include persistent fever unresponsive to treatment, sore throat, chest or abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and unexplained bleeding. Early diagnosis and treatment significantly improve the chances of survival, according to health officials.