The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) has issued a health advisory to residents following an increased risk of Lassa fever transmission across the state.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Director-General of the Centre, Dr. Muhammad Adamu Abbas, said the alert aligns with a national advisory from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), which forecasts a likely surge in Lassa fever infections between October and May.
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Dr. Abbas noted that the Kano State government has already activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) to strengthen preparedness and response efforts. As part of the state’s strategy, health authorities have begun distributing essential medical supplies, including personal protective equipment and antiviral medications, to health facilities.
He added that healthcare workers are receiving refresher training on case management and infection prevention, while community sensitization campaigns and rodent control exercises are ongoing in high-risk areas.
Residents were advised to uphold strict hygiene measures by keeping their surroundings clean, storing food in tightly sealed containers, and sealing possible rodent entry points in their homes. The KNCDC also urged individuals with persistent fever or related symptoms to seek immediate medical attention.
Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic illness spread through contact with food or household items contaminated by rodents, or through exposure to the urine and feces of infected rats. The disease can also spread from person to person through bodily fluids.
Common symptoms include persistent fever, sore throat, chest pain, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, unexplained bleeding.
The KNCDC emphasized that early detection and prompt treatment can greatly improve survival chances and called for continued public cooperation to prevent the spread of the disease across Kano State.
 has issued a Lassa fever alert, urging residents to maintain hygiene as the government activates emergency response measures to curb potential outbreaks.){kind=link}