Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced the prevalence of diphtheria Friday and reported that 25 fatality, most of whom were underage children in Kano State.
Although, the total number of confirmed cases and deaths have not been ascertained. According to Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, the agency’s head, NCDC has swung into action in order to contain the outbreak and is currently observing the situation in the four hit states.
Kano State health commission, Dr. Aminu Tsanyawa, said the state has recorded more than 70 suspected cases along with 25 deaths related to the deadly pandemic.
Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make toxin. It lead to difficulty breathing,
The country has not experienced serious diphtheria in recent times.
About three years ago, United Nations children’s agency UNICEF raised alarm that Nigeria has reneged on the routine immunizations against the infection owing to the COVID-19 disease.
Dr. Abdullahi Kauran-Mata, the state’s chief epidemiologist said the outbreak first surfaced among children in a Kano state hospital, late December.
“Immediately we got the information, we quickly mobilized our team through the ministry of health, and the investigation started,” Kauran-Mata said.
