Diphtheria: 10 killed, 91 Cases Reported In Jigawa
- Kazeem Badmus
No fewer than 91 suspected cases and 10 deaths of diphtheria were recorded in Jigawa State, the state Ministry of Health has confirmed.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Salisu Mu’azu, confirmed the outbreak while addressing newsmen in Dutse on Friday.
Mua’zu disclosed that two confirmed cases had been identified in Kazaure and Jahun Local Government Areas, with additional samples sent to Abuja for examination.
He attributed the outbreak to disruptions in healthcare services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic a few years ago, which led to the suspension of routine immunization efforts, leaving the population vulnerable to such outbreaks.
READ: Diphtheria: 520 Children Die Of Suspected Cases In Kano
He said, “The outbreak appears to have struck hardest in areas where routine immunization coverage was lacking.”
The Permanent Secretary maintained that the state government had been proactive in responding to the situation, especially following reports of diphtheria outbreaks in neighbouring states like Kano and Yobe.
“The state government is now actively preparing to administer vaccines once they become available”, he noted.
Kazeem Badmus is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience. A professional in journalism and media writing, Kazeem prioritses accuracy and factual reportage of issues. He is also a dexterous finder of the truth with conscious delivery of unbiased and development oriented stories.
