RismadarVoice Reporters
February 17, 2026
Kano Centre for Disease Control (KCDC) has confirmed one death and two additional infections following a Lassa fever outbreak in the state.
Director-General of the agency, Mohammed Adamu, disclosed this while briefing journalists on Monday night.
According to him, the deceased was a staff member of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) who died from complications of the disease. A doctor and another woman later contracted the infection after coming into contact with the victim.
“We recorded a case of Lassa fever but were able to bring the situation under control,” Adamu said.
He explained that the index case involved a French national who developed symptoms about a week after arriving in Nigeria.
“On January 28, a woman from France who worked with Médecins Sans Frontières developed a fever about a week after arriving in Nigeria. She went to the hospital, where she was given medications. After three days, her condition deteriorated and she began bleeding. She returned to the hospital and unfortunately passed away the same day,” he stated.
Adamu said the remains were moved to the mortuary at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) before health authorities were notified.
“We collected her blood sample to carry out tests and she tested positive for Lassa fever,” he added.
Contact Tracing and Response:
The KCDC boss revealed that contact tracing led to the identification of additional infections.
“We discovered that a doctor from Minjibir who had earlier had contact with her also came down with the infection, as well as one other woman,” he said.
Adamu disclosed that 62 contacts were traced across five local government areas. Of these, 25 were classified as high-risk and tested.
“Out of the 25 tested, 22 were negative, while three tested positive. One is dead, and two are currently in isolation,” he said.
The female patient is receiving care at AKTH, while the infected doctor is being treated at the Yargaya isolation centre.
Adamu added that health officials have intensified public enlightenment campaigns in Minjibir and surrounding areas to raise awareness and curb further spread. He also stated that the Ministry of Environment would fumigate affected areas to eliminate rats, the primary carriers of the disease.
About Lassa Fever:
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness endemic in parts of West Africa.
It is caused by the Lassa virus and is primarily transmitted to humans through contact with food, surfaces, or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats.
Common symptoms include fever, headache, weakness, vomiting, and, in severe cases, bleeding.
Approximately 25 per cent of survivors may experience some degree of hearing loss.
There is currently no licensed vaccine for Lassa fever.
However, early supportive care and prompt treatment with the antiviral drug ribavirin significantly improve survival outcomes.
