HEALTH ADVISORY ON LASSA FEVER (LF)

Issued by: Director General, Kano State Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (KNCDC)

The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) has issued a public health advisory alerting residents to the onset of the 2025/2026 Lassa Fever season across Nigeria.

According to a statement signed by the Director General of KNCDC, Dr. Muhammad Adamu Abbas, the advisory follows a national alert from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) warning of increased risk of Lassa Fever transmission during the period between October and May.

Lassa Fever, a viral haemorrhagic disease, is transmitted 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 contact with the blood or body fluids of infected individuals.

Dr. Abbas explained that Kano’s ecological and environmental conditions make the state vulnerable to potential outbreaks, urging citizens to maintain high levels of hygiene and adhere to preventive measures.

The advisory stated that Residents should keep their surroundings clean, store food in covered containers, and block all possible rodent entry points. 

Anyone experiencing persistent fever or related symptoms should report immediately to the nearest health facility .

The symptoms of Lassa Fever include fever that does not respond to treatment, sore throat, chest or abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and unexplained bleeding from any part of the body. Early diagnosis and treatment, according to health officials, greatly improve survival chances.

As part of preparedness measures, the Kano State Government has activated the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) for Lassa Fever response. The state has also begun pre-positioning essential medical supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPE), antivirals, and training for health workers on case management and infection prevention.

Community sensitization campaigns and rodent control exercises are also ongoing in high-risk local government areas as part of the state’s “One Health” response strategy, which integrates environmental and agricultural sectors.

The KNCDC appealed to residents to report any suspected case promptly through designated surveillance channels rather than attempting home treatment.

 Dr. Abbas assured that Lassa Fever is preventable and treatable when detected early added that together, we can keep Kano State free from Lassa Fever this season.

Residents can contact KNCDC through 07077974507 or via kanocdc@gmail.com for reports and inquiries. National emergency lines are also available through NCDC Connect Centre at 6232 (toll-free) or WhatsApp 0708 711 0839.