Diphtheria
Diphtheria spreads into Kaduna, 8 killed, as 68 cases reported
Kaduna Government says it has recorded 68 suspected cases of the deadly throat disease, diphtheria in the state.
This is also as the state reported a total of eight fatalities from the serious bacterial infection that usually affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat.
Director of Public Health, Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Hamza Ibrahim-Ikara, disclosed this on Tuesday, in an interview session with newsmen, in Kaduna.
Ibrahim-Ikara who said the suspected cases were from four local government areas (LGAs) of the state, which included Makarfi, Kubau, Jema’a (Kafanchan) and Kaduna North, added that five of the fatalities were from Jema’a, and three from Makarfi.
The director said that 28 samples had been taken to the laboratory, and they were awaiting the results.
“We still have one suspected case in Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital now. For now, they are all suspected cases, no confirmation yet until the results are out.
According to him, contact tracing and active search are also ongoing to curb transmission. He also said that the Rapid Response Team was carrying out media and door-to-door sensitisation campaigns in communities.
Ibrahim-Ikara however, urged residents to report suspected cases to the nearest health facilities across the state.
He disclosed that the state government was prioritising routine immunisation to ensure all children were fully vaccinated against the disease.
