More than 20 health workers of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano, have been confirmed negative for Lassa fever and subsequently discharged from temporary isolation.
However, one of the samples collected tested positive for Lassa fever. The new carrier, a male adult currently under the care of the Kano State Epidemiology Unit, is said to be the husband of the index case that died earlier in the week.
The index case, a 22-year-old pregnant woman, died at the gynecology emergency unit of the teaching hospital a few minutes after she was rushed into the facility.
Chief Information Officer, AKTH, Maryam Aminu Usman, who confirmed the fresh case to The Guardian, added that more than 20 health personnel of the teaching hospital who had direct contact with the index case have tested negative.
The affected staff, according to Usman, were temporarily isolated while their blood samples were collected for investigation. She added that the results of the samples indicated none were infected.
“More than twenty health personnel of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital who had direct contact with the patient that had Lassa fever have tested negative.
“Similarly, others screened as a result of contact tracing have also tested negative, with the exception of only the husband of the patient who tested positive. The negative result was due to the diligence and professionalism by AKTH staff in attending to patients generally.
“The management of the hospital went into swift action after confirming a case of Lassa fever on a 22-year-old pregnant woman that was brought to the hospital on April 5, 2025. The management took all necessary precautionary measures to curtail the spread of the disease in the hospital and environs,” Usman noted.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, earlier told our correspondent via WhatsApp message that the state CDC has mobilised the Rapid Response Team to curtail the situation.
The Commissioner confirmed four cases, with the index case passed on, while three others are being monitored despite negative lab results.
He said, “And we are line listing contacts. Antivirals, PPEs and thermometers have been delivered to AKTH. Twenty samples have been taken from AKTH staff and all have been asked to self-isolate. They were all given Rivavirin.
“Our Rapid Response Team was at Kura General Hospital too. We have line listed all contacts and are being monitored for any signs and symptoms. They will be observed for two weeks.
“The primary contact of the woman at Garun Mallam has been isolated and given Rivavirin. His sample has been taken. Results expected tomorrow,” Dr. Yusuf emphasized.
