Diphtheria: 130 hospitalized as outbreak hits Kano, states begin immunization

The Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Yusuf, announced on Thursday, that the state had put in place the essential procedures to stop the spread of the disease.

He said as cases of diphtheria in the state surged beyond 130, the State government has established three treatment centres.

“Governor Abba Yusuf has since directed the ministry to swing into action to curtail the spread of the deadly disease. Three designated centres have been provided for treatment and admission,” he said.

Dr Yusuf blamed the previous administration for failing to immunize the people of Kano against diphtheria. He said that the state had not conducted any routine immunization campaign for over two years, adding that some people were reluctant to accept the vaccine due to misinformation and rumours.

“The general public should not hesitate to seek medical assistance whenever they experience any of the symptoms listed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease and Control,” he added.

The Kano State Government has urged the public to cooperate with health workers and report any suspected cases of diphtheria to the nearest health facility. It has also assured that it will intensify its efforts to vaccinate the people and stop the spread of the disease.

In the same vein, Dr. Nusirat Elelu, Executive Secretary of Kwara State’s Healthcare Development Agency, said on Thursday that the state had expanded immunization of children and infants to 388 health care facilities in the state to protect against diphtheria and other childhood diseases such as poliomyelitis.

She said, “We have extended our immunization to 388 facilities covering the 194 wards in the 16 local government councils of Kwara State.

“We are not limiting the immunization to diphtheria alone; we are also covering poliomyelitis and other diseases that can affect children in infancy.”

“We are not limiting the immunization to diphtheria alone; we are also covering poliomyelitis and other diseases that can affect children in infancy.”

Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that can affect the nose, throat, skin, and sometimes other organs. It can cause difficulty breathing, heart problems, and even death.

Diphtheria is preventable by vaccination, but it still occurs in some parts of the world where immunization coverage is low.

Diphtheria spreads through contact with respiratory droplets or skin lesions of infected people. It can also be transmitted by touching contaminated objects or surfaces. People who are not vaccinated or have not completed their vaccination schedule are at risk of getting infected.