Authorities in northern Nigeria's Kano state have confirmed an outbreak of Lassa fever.

Four people have died from the outbreak, including two medical staff who performed surgery on an infected patient.

Health commissioner Aminu Tsanyawa said 292 people have been quarantined and are receiving treatment.

Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness that usually infects humans through exposure to food or household items contaminated with the urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats.

The disease is endemic in the rodent population in parts of West Africa and there is currently no licensed vaccine for Lassa fever, according to the World Health Organization.