The Kano State Centre for Disease Control has raised the alarm over the commencement of the Lassa fever season, warning residents to take urgent preventive measures against the deadly viral disease.
Dr Muhammad Adamu Abbas, Director-General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control, disclosed that the public health advisory followed a national alert from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, which indicated heightened transmission risks between October and May.
“The NCDC warning indicated a possible increase in the risk of Lassa fever transmission during the period between October and May,” Dr Abbas stated whilst addressing journalists in Kano on Sunday.
The Director-General emphasised that Kano’s ecological and environmental conditions make the state particularly vulnerable to potential outbreaks, urging residents to maintain high standards of hygiene and strictly observe preventive protocols.
According to the advisory, residents must keep their surroundings clean, store food items in properly covered containers, and block all possible entry points for rodents into their homes and workplaces.
“Anyone experiencing persistent fever or related symptoms should report to the nearest health facility immediately,” Dr Abbas cautioned.
The Kano State Government has activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre for Lassa fever response as part of proactive containment measures.
Dr Abbas revealed that the centre has commenced pre-positioning essential medical supplies, including personal protective equipment, antivirals, and comprehensive training programmes for healthcare workers on case management and infection prevention protocols.
“Community sensitisation campaigns and rodent control exercises are ongoing in high-risk local government areas as part of the state’s ‘One Health’ response strategy, which integrates environmental and agricultural sectors,” the statement explained.
The KNCDC appealed to residents to report suspected cases promptly through designated surveillance channels rather than attempting home treatment, which could prove fatal.
“Lassa fever is preventable and treatable when detected early. Together, we can keep Kano State free from Lassa fever this season,” Dr Abbas assured residents.
Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic disease, spreads through contact with food, water, or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected rodents. Person-to-person transmission may also occur through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected individuals.
Health officials listed the symptoms of Lassa fever to include persistent fever that does not respond to conventional treatment, sore throat, chest or abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and unexplained bleeding from any part of the body.
