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Tag: Diphtheria

  • Diphtheria: FCT, 18 states may bring back face mask use

    Diphtheria: FCT, 18 states may bring back face mask use

    The Federal Government yesterday called on governors of the 19 states with confirmed cases of diphtheria to reintroduce face mask-wearing at public gatherings.

    It said the advice was necessary because the confirmed cases had soared to 8,406.

    The cases were recorded in 114 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 18 of 36  states and Abuja.

    Diphtheria is a highly contagious vaccine-preventable disease caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium. It causes difficulty in breathing, heart rhythm problems and death. 

    Like Coronavirus(COVID-19), which led to worldwide mandatory use of facemasks, diphtheria spreads among people mainly by direct contact or through the air via respiratory droplets.

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) had about three months ago said the FCT recorded the first case that resulted in the death of a four-year-old.  

    At a news conference yesterday, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, and NCDC Director-General, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, said out of the 8,406 confirmed cases, 6,202 (73.7 per cent) were of victims aged between one year and 14 years.

    The news conference was also attended by World Health Organisation (WHO) Deputy Country Representative, Alexander Chimbaru and Country Director of the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (USCDC), Mary Boyd.

    Adetifa, who gave the breakdown of the cases, described Kano as the epicentre of the disease.

    According to him, Kano State has reported 7,188 cases,  representing 86 per cent of the total infection.

    Yobe State ranks second with 775 cases,  Katsina, 232; Borno, 118; Jigawa, 23; Bauchi, 20; Kaduna, 17; Lagos, eight and  FCT, six; Gombe, five; Osun, three; Sokoto, three and  Niger, two.

     Cross River  Enugu,  Imo,   Nasarawa, Kebbi and  Zamfara states have one each.

     Adetifa said: “As of today (yesterday), there have been 13,204 reported suspected cases out of which 8,406 were confirmed cases from 114 local government areas in 19 states and the  FCT.

    “Of the 8,406 confirmed cases, 6,202 (73.7 per cent) were aged one to 14 years. Infants: less than one per cent; one to four years: 14.40 per cent; five to nine years: 32.2 per cent; 10 to 14 years: 27.1 per cent; adults above 20 years: 15 per cent.

    “Our records have shown that most of the confirmed cases of diphtheria in the country were unvaccinated against diphtheria.

    “Of the 8,406 confirmed cases, 5,371 (64 per cent) are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, 966 (11 per cent) with unknown vaccination status, while 2,069 (25 per cent) are fully vaccinated against diphtheria. 

    “The recently-deployed National Rapid Response Teams (NRRTs) are offering on-site surveillance and response support in affected states.’’ 

    He added that the NCDC had activated diphtheria surveillance and public health measures in the affected states and FCT.

     Adetifa explained that through laboratory networking, the NCDC had continued to conduct preliminary and confirmatory testing at sub-national and national levels.

    He added: “Currently, NCDC has 14 laboratories in the Diphtheria Laboratory Network with capacity to support diphtheria testing.

    “Optimisation of five additional laboratories at the subnational level is currently ongoing.

    “NCDC has conducted training for laboratory personnel at the sub-national level on diagnostic processes, quality assurance, biosafety, biosecurity procedures, and data management.”

    Adetifa also said the installation of laboratory equipment (biosafety cabinets, autoclaves, and incubators) were ongoing in Kaduna, Katsina and Bauchi states to assist in the optimisation of laboratories there.

    He said security challenges were limiting accessibility for some NRRTs in some local government areas.

    Shuaib, who is also the co-chair of the National Emergency Task Force and Coordination for Diphtheria in Nigeria, called on “governors of the affected states to institute face-covering requirements, such as facemasks in public gatherings.”

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    He said: “Diphtheria is an airborne disease. Like COVID-19, we can reduce air contact with the bacteria by adopting non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as the use of facemasks, hand-washing and physical distancing from affected persons. However, this should be done in a way that does not stigmatise or discriminate against sick people.

    “Accordingly, I would like to call on governors of the affected states to institute face-covering requirements, such as facemasks in public gatherings. By so doing, we can add another intervention to slow the progress of the outbreak.”

    Shuaib added that the government believes that vaccination remained the most potent weapon against diphtheria.

    He explained that Nigeria has two vaccines —    Pentavalent which is administered to children aged six weeks to four years, and the Tetanus-diphtheria (Td)   for children aged between four years and 14 years.

    According to him, in recent months, the government has launched rapid and comprehensive vaccination campaigns across the affected states.

    Shuaib said: “Kano, as the epicentre of this outbreak, has been at the forefront of our vaccination efforts. Working with the state governments, we implemented Rounds One and Two of the vaccination campaign in five high-burden local government areas (LGAs) in February and April 2023 respectively.”

    “Subsequently, Round Three was integrated with routine immunisation intensification, further bolstering our response. An additional eight LGAs in Kano underwent reactive vaccination exercises in the last week of August.

    “Beyond Kano, we expanded our response to include Kaduna, Katsina, Bauchi, and Yobe in our Phase One response. These states engaged, trained, and executed vaccination campaigns in 25 high-burden LGAs within their borders with the commencement of reactive vaccination in August 2023.

    “Borno State also conducted reactive vaccination exercises in four LGAs during the same period.

    WHO’s Deputy Country Representative  Chimbaru called for the involvement of traditional, religious and community leaders in the vaccination of children.

    He said: “It is very critical to bring traditional, religious and community leaders to support vaccination of children. Diphtheria is a highly infectious disease and a cause for concern. The vaccines being used now are safe and effective.

    “Nigeria has the Pentavalent vaccine. We applaud the government for providing the vaccines free of charge. We will support in surveillance and coordination of activities in terms of communication and community engagement. We need to have the communities coming on board to tackle the disease.”

    USCDC  Country Director Boyd commended the Federal  Government for setting up the task force on diphtheria.

    She said: “In Nigeria, we are seeing quite a number of deaths, up to 14 years. We are not just addressing the specific outbreak but also building systems that will help the country to better respond to future outbreaks.”

  • Diphtheria: 19 states consider compulsory facemask usage as cases soar to 8,604

    Diphtheria: 19 states consider compulsory facemask usage as cases soar to 8,604

    Given the recent surge in diphtheria cases nationwide, nineteen states are considering reinstating mandatory face mask usage in public gatherings as a preventive measure against the community transmission of the disease.

    The federal government on Tuesday, October 3, urged state governors of affected states to institute face-covering requirements such as facemasks in public gatherings in order to slow down the progress of the diphtheria outbreak.

    The government revealed that as of October 3, 2023, a total of 8,406 confirmed cases have been reported from 19 states and 114 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across the country.

    Kano, however, is the epicentre of the outbreak, as the state has reported 7,188 confirmed cases out of all the confirmed cases in the country, representing 86 percent of the total infection.

    The breakdown of the affected States is Kano, 7,188 (86 percent); Yobe, 775; Katsina, 232; Borno, 118; Jigawa, 23; Bauchi, 20; Kaduna, 17; Lagos, 8; FCT, 6; Gombe, 5; Osun, 3; Sokoto, 3; Niger, 2; Cross River, 1; Enugu, 1; Imo, 1; Nasarawa, 1; Zamfara, 1; and Kebbi, 1.

    Read Also: Diphtheria: Group to launch wide-scale health response in Kano, Yobe and Katsina

    According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diphtheria is a highly contagious vaccine-preventable disease caused mainly by Corynebacterium diphtheria but also by Corynebacterium ulcerans. It spreads between people mainly by direct contact or through the air via respiratory droplets. The disease can affect all age groups; however, unimmunized children are most at risk.

    Symptoms often come on gradually, beginning with a sore throat and fever. In severe cases, the bacteria produce a poison (toxin) that causes a thick grey or white patch at the back of the throat. This can block the airways, making it hard to breathe or swallow, and also creates a barking cough. The neck may swell in part due to enlarged lymph nodes.

    Speaking during the diphtheria emergency task force briefing in Abuja, the co-chair of the task force on diphtheria, and Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib stressed that the government believes that vaccination is our most formidable weapon against diphtheria.

    He, therefore, disclosed that the country has two vaccines at its disposal: the Pentavalent vaccine, administered to children aged 6 weeks to 4 years, and the Tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine, provided to children aged above 4 years to 14 years.

    He further revealed that in recent months, the government launched rapid and comprehensive vaccination campaigns across the affected regions.

    He said: “Kano, as the epicentre of this outbreak, has been at the forefront of our vaccination efforts. Working with the State Governments, we implemented rounds 1 and 2 of the vaccination campaign in five high-burden Local Government Areas (LGAs) in February and April 2023 respectively. Subsequently, round 3 was integrated with routine immunization intensification, further bolstering our response. An additional 8 LGAs in Kano underwent reactive vaccination exercises in the last week of August.

    “Beyond Kano, we expanded our response to include Kaduna, Katsina, Bauchi, and Yobe in our Phase One response. These states engaged, trained, and executed vaccination campaigns in 25 high-burden LGAs within their borders with the commencement of reactive vaccination in August 2023. Borno State also conducted reactive vaccination exercises in four LGAs during the same period.

    “Diphtheria is an airborne disease. Like COVID-19, we can reduce air contact with the bacteria by adopting non-pharmaceutical interventions such as the use of facemasks, handwashing and physical distancing from affected persons. However, this should be done in a way that does not stigmatize nor discriminate against sick people.

    “Accordingly, I would like to call on Governors of affected states to institute face-covering requirements such as facemasks in public gatherings. By so doing, we can add another intervention to slow the progress of the outbreak.”

    In his remarks, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr Ifedayo Adetifa said: “As of today, the 3rd of October 2023, there have been 13,204 reported suspected cases out of which 8,406 were confirmed cases from 114 Local Government Areas in 19 States including the FCT.

    “Of the 8,406 confirmed cases, 6,202 (73.7 percent) were aged 1-14 years. Infants: less than 1 percent, 1-4 years: 14.40, 5-9 years: 32.2 percent, 10-14 years: 27.1 percent, Adults above 20 years: 15 percent.

    “Our records have shown that most of the confirmed cases of Diphtheria in the country were unvaccinated against Diphtheria. Of the 8,406 confirmed cases, 5,371 (64 percent) are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, 966 (11 percent) with unknown vaccination status, and 2,069 (25 percent) are fully vaccinated against diphtheria.

    “The recently deployed NRRT is offering on-site surveillance and response support to affected States in areas of active case search in communities and health facilities.

    “Security challenges are however limiting accessibility of some teams to some locations in affected LGAs across States.”

    WHO’s Deputy Country Representative, Alexander Chimbaru, added: “It is very critical to bring traditional, religious and community leaders to support vaccination of children. Diphtheria is a highly infectious disease and a cause for concern. The vaccines being used now are safe and effective.

    “Nigeria has the pentavalent vaccine. We applaud the government for providing the vaccines free of charge. We will support in surveillance and coordination of activities in terms of communication and community engagement. We need to have the communities coming on board to tackle the disease.”

    Mary Boyd, the Country Director of the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (USCDC) said: “I commend the government for setting up the task force for diphtheria. In Nigeria, we are seeing quite a number of deaths, up to 14 years. We are not just addressing the specific outbreak but also building systems that will help the country to better respond to future outbreaks.

    “I am hopeful that we will come out of this soon and that neighbouring countries can take a cue from Nigeria in response to the outbreak. We need to promote vaccination; families must prioritize bringing their babies to health centres for vaccination.”

  • Humanitarian group to launch health response against diphtheria in Kano, Yobe and Katsina

    Humanitarian group to launch health response against diphtheria in Kano, Yobe and Katsina

    A humanitarian group, Save the Children International (SCI), has said it was launching a wide-scale health response against diphtheria in the three most impacted states of Kano, Yobe and Katsina.

    It noted that its Emergency Health Unit was deploying expert health and supply chain staff to help over-stretched clinics to detect and treat diphtheria cases and to support with mass vaccination campaigns across the worst hit areas.

    SCI in a statement issued Friday by its Interim Country Director, Faton Krasniqi, said prior to the pandemic, Nigeria already had one of the lowest vaccination rates in the world, with efforts to strengthen routine immunisation coverage and reduce under-five mortality having limited success.

    Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease that has largely been eradicated across the world, although periodic outbreaks happen in places where large groups of children have missed this routine vaccination, such as the disruptions to vaccinations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    However, diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that can be fatal without treatment.

    Nigeria has recorded 7,202 cases of diphtheria and 430 deaths since the outbreak started in May 2022.

    The statement said: “There have been 453 deaths confirmed since the outbreak started in May 2022, with most cases recorded in the past three months.

    Read Also: Diphtheria: Group to launch wide-scale health response in Kano, Yobe and Katsina

    “The vast majority of the confirmed cases (6,185) were recorded in Kano, the second most populous state in Nigeria, located in the north of the country.

    “Three in every four confirmed cases – or 73.6% of all cases – are of children under 14, with those aged between 5-14 years bearing the brunt of the disease.”

    Krasniqi warned that a mass vaccination campaign will only be successful if the vaccine shortage is urgently dealt with.

    He noted: “Severe shortages in Nigeria of the required vaccine and the antitoxin needed to treat the disease mean the situation could continue to escalate, placing many children at risk of severe illness and death,” said the child rights organisation.

    “The entire humanitarian community is alert to the crisis here. We are coordinating closely together and working alongside the Nigerian Ministry of Health to ensure we reach everyone who needs treatment and to contain the spread of the disease.”

  • Diphtheria: Group to launch wide-scale health response in Kano, Yobe and Katsina

    Diphtheria: Group to launch wide-scale health response in Kano, Yobe and Katsina

    A humanitarian group, Save the Children International (SCI) has said it was launching a wide-scale health response against diphtheria in the three most impacted states of Kano, Yobe, and Katsina.

    It noted that its Emergency Health Unit was deploying expert health and supply chain staff to help over-stretched clinics to detect and treat diphtheria cases and to support mass vaccination campaigns across the worst-hit areas.

    SCI in a statement issued Friday, September 29, by its Interim Country Director, Faton Krasniqi, said prior to the pandemic, Nigeria already had one of the lowest vaccination rates in the world, with efforts to strengthen routine immunization coverage and reduce under-five mortality having limited success.

    Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease that has largely been eradicated across the world, although periodic outbreaks happen in places where large groups of children have missed this routine vaccination, such as the disruptions to vaccinations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    However, diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that can be fatal without treatment.

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    Nigeria recorded 7,202 cases of diphtheria and 430 deaths since the outbreak started in May 2022.

    The statement said: “There have been 453 deaths confirmed since the outbreak started in May 2022, with most cases recorded in the past three months.

    “The vast majority of the confirmed cases (6,185) were recorded in Kano, the second most populous state in Nigeria, located in the north of the country.

    “Three in every four confirmed cases – or 73.6% of all cases – are of children under 14, with those aged between 5-14 years bearing the brunt of the disease.”

    Krasniqi warned that a mass vaccination campaign will only be successful if the vaccine shortage is urgently dealt with.

    He noted: “Severe shortages in Nigeria of the required vaccine and the antitoxin needed to treat the disease mean the situation could continue to escalate placing many children at risk of severe illness and death, said the child rights organisation.

    “The entire humanitarian community is alert to the crisis here. We are coordinating closely together and working alongside the Nigerian Ministry of Health to ensure we reach everyone who needs treatment and to contain the spread of the disease.

    “Diphtheria can be fatal in more than 10% of cases, but this can increase in places like overcrowded displacement camps or informal settlements in cities, where families have limited access to health services or where health facilities are overwhelmed.

    “The response to this outbreak requires an urgent injection of funding and a large supply of vaccines to ensure we can contain it, and to save children’s lives.”

  • UNICEF lifts states with 9.3m doses of diphtheria vaccines

    UNICEF lifts states with 9.3m doses of diphtheria vaccines

    • Global agency says Nigeria needs $3.3m to curtail scourge

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria has said it had deployed 9.3 million doses of diphtheria vaccines in affected states to support Federal Government’s efforts to curb the spread of the disease.

    The global agency also said it would need to raise additional US$3.3 million until the end of the year to support the country’s efforts to effectively respond to the current diphtheria outbreak.

    A statement yesterday in Abuja by UNICEF’s Communication Assistant, Nchekwube Nwosu-Igbo, said a crucial part of the support includes the procurement of vaccines to support the government’s response.

    “So far, on behalf of the government, UNICEF has deployed 9.3 million doses of diphtheria vaccines to affected states, including Kano, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Kaduna, and Jigawa.

    “Of these, four million doses have been dispatched to Kano, the epicentre of the outbreak; another four million doses of vaccines are being procured and will be handed over to government in the coming weeks,” it said.

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    The statement said the diphtheria outbreak was the most severe in recent global history and that it was “sounding the alarm about the urgent need for widespread vaccination”.

    It added that the outbreak had resulted in over 11,500 suspected cases, more than 7,000 confirmed cases and claimed the lives of 453 people, mostly children.

    UNICEF also said most cases were children aged between four to 15 years, especially among those who had not received a dose of the vital vaccine.

    This underlines the urgency of the vaccination situation in Nigeria.

    In the statement, UNICEF Representative, Dr. Rownak Khan, explained that “the devastating impact of this diphtheria outbreak is a grim reminder of the importance of vaccination”.

    He added: “Nigeria is home to a staggering 2.2 million children who have not received even a single dose of vaccine, the second largest such cohort in the world.

    “We must collectively take urgent actions to drastically reduce this number. Every child deserves protection from preventable diseases. This is not negotiable.”

    UNICEF urged partners, stakeholders, and the international community to ensure that every child in Nigeria is reached with life-saving vaccines.

    The global agency stressed the need to strengthen routine immunisation, community engagement, and health systems to avoid similar outbreaks in the future.

  • Diphtheria outbreak: UNICEF to raise additional $3.3 million, calls for vaccination

    Diphtheria outbreak: UNICEF to raise additional $3.3 million, calls for vaccination

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has stated that to support Nigeria to effectively respond to the current diphtheria outbreak, it would need to raise additional US$3.3 million until the end of the year.

    It also called for the urgent ramping-up of vaccination against the disease amidst the most severe diphtheria outbreak in recent times globally.

    It stated that while the outbreak has so far resulted in over 11,500 suspected cases, more than 7,000 confirmed cases, and claimed the lives of 453 people, mostly children, most cases are children aged between 4 to 15 years who have not received even a single dose of the vital vaccine.

    The agency disclosed that it is providing urgent support to the Nigerian government in its efforts to combat the outbreak. 

    A crucial part of this support includes the procurement of vaccines to support the government’s response. 

    UNICEF further revealed that, “So far, on behalf of the government, it has deployed 9.3 million doses of diphtheria vaccines to affected states including Kano, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Kaduna and Jigawa. Of these, 4 million doses have been dispatched to Kano, the epicentre of the outbreak. Another 4 million doses of vaccines are being procured and will be handed over to the government in the coming weeks.

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    “The devastating impact of this diphtheria outbreak is a grim reminder of the importance of vaccination. Nigeria is home to a staggering 2.2 million children who haven’t received even a single dose of vaccine – the second largest such cohort in the world. 

    “We must collectively take urgent actions to drastically reduce this number. Every child deserves protection from preventable diseases. This is not negotiable,” said Dr. Rownak Khan, UNICEF Representative.”

    While calling on partners, stakeholders, and the international community to rally together to ensure that every child in Nigeria is reached with life-saving vaccines, it emphasised the importance of strengthening routine immunization, community engagement, and health systems to avoid similar outbreaks in the future.

  • 453 deaths, 7,202 Diphtheria cases recorded in 18 states, says Fed Govt

    453 deaths, 7,202 Diphtheria cases recorded in 18 states, says Fed Govt

    The Federal Government has confirmed 7,202 cases of diphtheria with 453 deaths from 105 local government areas (LGAs) in 18 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as of September 24.

    In a joint statement with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said Kano accounts for 85.9 per cent, that is, 6,185 cases of the total 7,202 confirmed cases across the country.

    The other states with reported cases are: Yobe (640), Katsina (213), Borno (95), Kaduna (16), Jigawa (14), Bauchi (eight), Lagos (eight), FCT (five), Gombe (five), Osun (three), Sokoto (three), Niger (two), Cross River (one), Enugu (one), Imo (one), Nasarawa (one) and Zamfara (one).

    The government also said its findings showed that 80 per cent of the confirmed cases in the ongoing outbreak were unvaccinated.

    Also, the government said individuals with signs and symptoms suggestive of diphtheria should promptly present to a healthcare facility or designated diphtheria treatment centres and, where possible, they and/or healthcare workers should notify their LGA, State Disease Surveillance Officer (DSNO), their states’ ministries of health helpline, or the NCDC through its toll-free line on 6232.

    The statement reads: “Since the confirmation of the re-emergence of diphtheria in Nigeria in December 2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), have continued to respond to diphtheria outbreaks across different states in the country.” 

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    “As of September 24, 2023, there have been 11,587 reported suspected cases, out of which 7,202 were confirmed cases from 105 LGAs in 18 states, including the FCT. Most (6,185) of the confirmed cases were recorded in Kano State.

    “The majority (5,299 or 73.6 per cent) of the confirmed cases occurred among children aged one to 14 years with those aged between five and 14 years bearing most of the brunt of the disease. So far, a total of 453 deaths have occurred in confirmed cases, giving a case fatality rate (CFR) of 6.3 per cent.”

    “Given the escalation of the outbreak and findings that 80 per cent of confirmed cases in the ongoing outbreak are unvaccinated, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, set up a national emergency task team co-chaired by the Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for higher level coordination of outbreak response efforts. 

    “This includes ensuring optimal collaboration of all relevant health stakeholders in this fight. “Other prominent members of the task force are: the Director of Public Health in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Information, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), USCDC, USAID, GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and development partners.”

    It added: “For the first time for any diphtheria outbreak, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, through the NCDC and with WHO support, procured diphtheria antitoxin (DAT) and, more recently, intravenous erythromycin and distributed them to the affected states.

    “With support from partners and in collaboration with the states’ Ministries of Health, Diphtheria Treatment Centres/Wards have been established in affected states.

    “Intensification of routine diphtheria immunisation and reactive vaccination campaigns in 33 local government areas across five states – Bauchi, Katsina, Yobe, Kano, and Kaduna by the NPHCDA.

    “Mobilised procurement of vaccines and essential logistics for three large-scale Outbreak Response campaigns in 56 LGAs across seven priority states – Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Yobe.”

  • Diphtheria: 10 dead as Jigawa records suspected cases

    Diphtheria: 10 dead as Jigawa records suspected cases

    Abouot 10 people have died following an outbreak of 91 suspected cases of diphtheria across 14 local government areas of Jigawa State.

    Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr Salisu Mu’azu confirmed this yesterday during a news conference in Dutse. According to him, two cases were confirmed at Kazaure and Jahun councils, while some samples have been taken to Abuja for confirmation.

    Mu’azu noted that this outbreak was particularly concerning as it happened in areas with a history of zero-dose routine immunisation against the epidemic.

    Read Also: 10 die of suspected diphtheria, 91 cases recorded in Jigawa

    According to him, the ministry initiated an investigation, gathering essential information and data from the affected regions. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHDA) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) were also notified to coordinate further actions.

    Mu’azu stressed the urgency of the situation, saying, ‘the government is actively preparing to administer vaccines as soon as they become available’. He also attributed the outbreak to the disruptions in healthcare services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, explaining that the suspension of routine immunisation during that period posed a significant challenge.

    In response, the NPHDA and NCDC have been closely monitoring the situation and collaborating with the ministry to contain the outbreak.

    Local communities are urged to remain vigilant and follow any directives issued by health authorities to mitigate the spread.

  • Diphtheria outbreak claims 26 lives in Bauchi

    Diphtheria outbreak claims 26 lives in Bauchi

    Bauchi State Government, through the Ministry of Health, has confirmed the death of 26 persons from diphtheria outbreak with 180 suspected cases recorded across the state.

    The Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BASPHCDA), Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, disclosed this Friday, while giving an update on the Bauchi State diphtheria outbreak report during a USAID-IHP One Day Media Engagement on the 2023 Bauchi State budget performance held in Bauchi.

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    Mohammed explained that four out of the 26 deaths were confirmed diphtheria and the remaining 22 present sign or symptoms and complications of diphtheria following the outcome of results of tests conducted on the patients.

    The chairman said that the suspected cases were being investigated to ascertain the confirmed cases, adding that health personnel had been trained to handle the outbreak and disease surveillance team deployed for active case search across the state.

    “A total of 180 suspected cases were reported from Bauchi (07), Dambam (32), Darazo(2) Itas-Gadau (5), Jamaáre (104), Katagum (17), Misau (9), Ganjuwa(1), Giade (1) and Ningi (1) LGAs. Of the 180 suspected cases reported, 7 (3.9%) were lab confirmed and 166 were clinically compatible,” he said.

    Mohammed added, “A total of 26 deaths were recorded among suspected, confirmed cases (CFR- 14.40%). 10 LGAs reported at least a case, totalling 180 suspected cases in Bauchi State. Jamaáre LGA accounted for 57.8% of the diphtheria cases.

    “The ages of the suspected/ confirmed cases were 0–55 years while two deaths were recorded among the 7 confirmed cases (CFR: 28.60%), 12 (11.5%) of the total cases reported from Jama’are LGA where they were partially vaccinated with a diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine.”

    The chairman noted that the state had commenced a vaccination exercise in some local government areas in order to contain the outbreak.

    “As at August 23, 2023, a total of 180 suspected cases were reported in 10 LGAs, 26 deaths recorded, out of the total deaths, four are confirmed cases while 22 others are suspected cases which is why WHO is supporting the reactive vaccination for aged zero to 14 years,” he added.