Jigawa State has reported a concerning total of 91 suspected cases of diphtheria across 14 local government areas. Tragically, the state also fears that it may have lost 10 children to this childhood infection.
“There has been a diphtheria outbreak in the northern parts of Nigeria in the last four months.
“This is especially in neighboring Kano, Yobe, Katsina, and Bauchi states,’’ Permanent Secretary, Jigawa Ministry of Health, Dr. Salisu Muazu, told newsmen on Saturday in Dutse.
“About two weeks ago, we received patients that had symptoms of diphtheria in 14 local government areas bordering states that already established the infection.
“The National Reference Laboratory in Abuja confirmed two of the 91 suspected samples we sent to have tested positive for diphtheria,’’ Muazu said.
He added that the two confirmed samples were those from Kazaure and Jahun local government areas of Jigawa.
He explained that the majority of the victims were those who either did not receive complete immunization or those who received zero doses of childhood immunization.
“In fact, in the last 10 years, we have not had diphtheria in Jigawa, but in those neighboring states that now have the epidemic.
“The reason why we have it now may be due to the COVID-19 period when healthcare services completely broke down,’’ he said.
Muazu urged parents and community leaders to support and cooperate with health workers as the government had concluded plans to conduct mop-up immunization in affected local government areas.
He also called on residents to promptly report persons with symptoms of diphtheria to Disease Notification Officers in the local government areas or to the nearest health facility.