Fulminant Yersinia Pestis Infection in a Known HIV-Positive Patient: A Case Report of Identification in Nigeria 2024

TL;DR

A fatal case of Yersinia pestis infection in an HIV-positive patient was reported in Nigeria, highlighting the disease's potential severity and the need for vigilance even in non-endemic regions.

Contribution

This is the first recent report of Y. pestis infection in Nigeria and emphasizes the risk in immunocompromised individuals.

Findings

A fatal Y. pestis infection was identified in an HIV-positive patient in Nigeria.

The case highlights the importance of clinical suspicion for plague in non-endemic regions.

Co-infection in immunocompromised individuals can lead to severe outcomes.

Abstract

Yersinia pestis is one of the most dangerous pathogens in the world. While plague foci exist in Africa, no recent cases have been reported in Nigeria. We describe a fatal case of Y. pestis infection in a known HIV-positive patient who presented to a tertiary health facility in Nigeria. This case underscores the need for high clinical suspicion, even in regions considered non-endemic, and highlights the potential severity of co-infection in immunocompromised individuals.