Tag: Diphtheria

  • “Diphtheria Outbreak in Kaduna: 8 Deaths, 68 Suspected Cases”

    “Diphtheria Outbreak in Kaduna: 8 Deaths, 68 Suspected Cases”

    Kaduna State in Nigeria is currently facing a concerning outbreak of diphtheria, a severe bacterial infection that affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. As of now, there have been 68 suspected cases and 8 reported deaths.

    The cases have emerged from four local government areas in the state, including Makarfi, Kubau, Jema’a (Kafanchan), and Kaduna North. Among the fatalities, five were from Jema’a and three from Makarfi. Additionally, there is one suspected case being monitored at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital.

    In response to the outbreak, health authorities have taken 28 samples for testing, awaiting confirmation. Contact tracing and active search measures are currently underway to prevent further transmission. The Rapid Response Team is conducting sensitization campaigns through media and door-to-door efforts in affected communities to raise awareness about the disease and its prevention.

    Residents are strongly urged to report any suspected cases to the nearest health facilities across the state. The Kaduna State government is prioritizing routine immunization to ensure all children are fully vaccinated against diphtheria.

    It is essential for everyone to stay informed about the outbreak and seek immediate medical attention if any symptoms arise. The health authorities are working diligently to contain the spread and protect the community’s well-being.

  • Governor reports 10 Kaduna children succumb to diphtheria outbreak.

    Governor reports 10 Kaduna children succumb to diphtheria outbreak.

    The Kaduna State Ministry of Health has attributed the deaths of 10 children in various communities within Kafanchan, Jemaá Local Government Area, to a diphtheria outbreak.

    Governor Uba Sani took immediate action in response to the reported fatalities caused by this unfamiliar disease. He promptly instructed an emergency health team to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

    The governor emphasized that the confirmation of the diphtheria outbreak came after receiving multiple reports from residents in Takau Ward, Kafanchan A, and Kafanchan B wards, who exhibited concerning symptoms, including difficulty in breathing, high fever, cough, general body weakness, sore throat, and neck swelling.

    “In light of the tragic loss of lives in the affected communities, His Excellency Senator Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna State, swiftly directed the Kaduna State Ministry of Health to dispatch an emergency team to investigate these cases.”According to the statement, the Ministry’s preliminary report indicates that the diphtheria outbreak in Kafanchan began with its first recorded case at the start of July 2023.
    The governor praised the swift and efficient response of the health officials to the health emergency and urged them to maintain their diligence in containing and eventually eradicating the disease.

    The statement further highlighted the measures taken by the Ministry, including transferring affected cases to well-equipped hospitals for proper management, conducting active case searches, tracing contacts, and conducting extensive community sensitization in all affected areas and their vicinity.

    The statement further emphasized that residents have been advised to take proactive measures to prevent the spread of the disease and safeguard their communities.

    Residents were encouraged to adopt the following preventive measures:

    1. Wash their hands regularly with soap and water.
    2. Avoid close contact with individuals who are sick.
    3. Cover their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing.
    4. Stay at home from work or school if they are feeling unwell.
    5. Engage in regular physical activity, such as walking, to boost immunity.
    6. Report any suspected cases of diphtheria in their surrounding communities.

    By adhering to these guidelines, the aim is to curb the transmission of the disease and protect the health and well-being of the community at large.

  • Diphtheria: NCDC moves to control rising cases in Kano

    Diphtheria: NCDC moves to control rising cases in Kano

    The Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC) has said that it has intensified vaccination of people in the communities affected by the diphtheria outbreak and other parts of Kano State where the index case started.

    The outbreak has cut across 16 local government areas of the state with at least 506 suspected cases recorded.

    Addressing newsmen in Kano shortly after a meeting with the state health team, the Director General of the NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adefita, said adequate measures were in place to contain the epidemic and that they had delivered 300 out of 1,000 valves of vaccines received in the country to Kano State.

    He said while they awaited more 1,000 valves of the vaccine, the commission had shifted attention to vaccinating people within the age range that were vulnerable to the disease.

    Earlier in his presentation, the state epidemiologist, Dr Abdullahi Kauranmata, said out of the 506 suspected cases, 11 were laboratory confirmed while 214 were clinically compatible cases.

    “Out of these suspected cases, we have recorded six deaths from the confirmed cases while 98 were discarded. We also recorded 167 pending classification cases while 16 were unknown,” he said.

  • FCT Exco calls for Healthcare Pre-emptive measures Against Diphtheria Outbreak in FCT

    FCT Exco calls for Healthcare Pre-emptive measures Against Diphtheria Outbreak in FCT

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The FCT Executive Committee (FCT EXCO), has called on health agencies in the territory to put in place all necessary healthcare preemptive measures against the emergence of an outbreak of the deadly childhood disease known as Diphtheria.

    The FCT EXCO gave this directive in its meeting held on Monday in Gwarinpa I District, Abuja.

    According to the directive, the Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCT Administration is to ensure increased surveillance and awareness creation and sensitization by all its relevant agencies, to curb the risk of the disease emerging and spreading within the territory.

    The Exco urged the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat to join forces with the Area Council Services Secretariat, and Chairmen of the six Area Councils immediately with relevant technical Partners in order to prevent the disease before it spreads to the FCT.

    It further urgged Health and Human Services Secretariat to synergize with stakeholders to ensure massive sensitization of all residents to further minimize the risk of contracting the ailment as cases have been reported in some states around the FCT.

    Diphtheria is a bacterial infection caused by the organism referred to as Corynebacterium diphtheria which affects the throat, nose, and sometimes, skin of unvaccinated children and rarely adults with poor immunity. The symptoms of the disease also include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes, neck swelling, and difficulty in breathing.

    Diphtheria spreads easily between people through direct contact with infected people, droplets from coughing or sneezing, and contact with contaminated clothing and objects, thereby underscoring the importance of hygiene and environmental sanitation in the prevention. The people most at risk are the unvaccinated and those who live in crowded areas and/or where there is poor sanitation.

    To reduce the risk of contracting the disease, children are expected to get fully vaccinated with three (3) doses of the Pentavalent vaccine as recommended in the National childhood immunization schedule. The FCT immunization coverage currently stands at 83%, against the national average of 57%, though at least 95% of all children are expected to be vaccinated to assure herd immunity, thereby preventing spread.

    Meanwhile, The the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) has been directed to restrict the activities of the Point of Sales (POS) operators scattered around the Federal Capital City to only commercial areas because of security concerns.

    FCT EXCO observed that POS is a commercial enterprise, and, therefore, should be conducted only in the designated commercial areas.

    Aside from the security implications, the activities of POS operators also create environmental nuisances as they serve to attract other commercial activities, thereby generating uncontrolled waste.

    The EXCO reemphasizes the importance that the present leadership of the FCT Administration places on the security and well-being of the residents and assures that it will take every necessary measure to protect all Nigerians and visitors residing in Abuja.

  • Diphtheria: Kano Leads As Death Toll Hits 34

    Diphtheria: Kano Leads As Death Toll Hits 34

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said that the death toll from Diphtheria disease across the country is now 34 as Kano State has registered 100 cases.

    The NCDC, via its official website on Sunday, said that the deaths were between December 2022 and early January 2023 from Lagos, Kano, Yobe, and Osun with Kano State alone registering 25 deaths.

    The agency blamed the increase in the infection and resurgence on the low vaccination coverage across the country.

    Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease that was common decades ago.

    Due to the effectiveness of childhood vaccination programmes, most people have forgotten what diphtheria looks like.

    “The fact that we are having a resurgence of diphtheria now suggests that there have been critical reductions in vaccination coverage among pockets of our population.

    “This reduced level of population immunity has given rise to the cases that we are seeing.

    “It is not a matter of diphtheria spreading from state to state, the bacteria that causes the disease is present everywhere in our environment.

    “Any state where you find diphtheria now, you are likely to find that it will be associated with suboptimal vaccination coverage, either in general or in pockets of the population,” it said.

    Meanwhile, the identified cases of diphtheria in Kano have risen from 25 to 100 in less than two weeks.

    Three persons in 13 local government areas of the state have died.

    The local government areas where the diseases are ravaging include Ungogo, Nassarawa, Bichi, Dala, Dawakin Kudu, Fagge, Gwale, Kano Municipal, Kumbotso, Rano, Dawakin Tofa and Gwarzo.

    Of the 100 cases, the state health ministry said eight were confirmed, while awaiting more results.

    Three among the eight have also been confirmed dead and 22 among other suspected cases.

    Currently, 27 patients are on admission receiving treatment while 41 have been managed and discharged successfully.