IDENTIFICATION OF PREVALENCE OF MALARIA AND DENGUE VIRUS CO-INFECTION AMONG ADULTS REPORTING WITH FEBRILE ILLNESS AT MURTALA MUHAMMAD SPECIALIST HOSPITAL, KANO

Mosquito-borne diseases, particularly malaria and dengue fever, pose significant public health concerns in tropical and subtropical regions. While both diseases share similar clinical symptoms, their concurrent infection (co-infection) remains underreported, often leading to misdiagnosis and improper treatment. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of malaria and dengue virus co-infection among adults presenting with febrile illness at Bayero University Kano (BUK) Clinics. A total of 75 febrile patients were screened for malaria and dengue infection using Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs), with malaria-positive cases confirmed via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) by amplification of cytochrome oxidase I (COX-I). The results indicated a malaria prevalence of 4% (3 out of 75), while no cases of dengue infection or malaria-dengue co-infection were detected. The absence of dengue-positive cases suggests a lower prevalence in the study population or seasonal variations in transmission. Despite existing reports of malaria-dengue co-infections in Nigeria, this study highlights the need for continuous surveillance, improved diagnostic accuracy, and awareness regarding dengue fever in Northern Nigeria. Further research involving larger sample sizes and year-round surveillance is recommended to better understand the epidemiology of these infections and to enhance public health interventions.