Katsina State has recorded a new case of Lassa fever, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the state to three, with two fatalities.

A consultant in infectious diseases at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, Mohammed Abubakar, confirmed the development in an interview on Wednesday, stating that the hospital is currently managing a female patient whose husband recently died from the disease.

According to him, the patient is stable and responding to treatment, adding that she was promptly isolated by the hospital’s emergency response team to prevent further transmission.

Abubakar also expressed concern over what he described as a shift in the pattern and severity of the outbreak in Nigeria, noting an increase in the fatality rate among confirmed cases.

He said that while previous outbreaks recorded fatality rates between 10 and 30 per cent, current data suggests that nearly one in four infected persons is now dying.

The consultant disclosed that over 1,000 suspected and confirmed cases have been reported nationwide since the beginning of the year, with about 145 deaths recorded.

He further noted a geographical shift in the spread of the disease, explaining that while earlier outbreaks were concentrated in the North-East and parts of the South-South, more than 90 per cent of current cases are now reported in Benue, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, and Plateau states.

Abubakar attributed the trend to factors such as climate change, insecurity, population displacement, poor hygiene and increased rodent infestation in homes.

He urged health workers to exercise caution in handling fever-related cases and to strictly adhere to the use of personal protective equipment.

The expert identified the multimammate rat as the primary carrier of the virus and advised residents to take preventive measures to keep rodents away from their homes.

He also cautioned parents against allowing children to hunt rats, noting that contact with infected rodents’ urine or droppings remains a major mode of transmission.

Abubakar called on authorities to reduce delays in laboratory testing, stressing that PCR results should be available within one to two days to enable prompt treatment.

He, however, commended the Katsina State Government for its support, particularly in the provision of drugs and timely intervention by relevant health officials.