Diphtheria: Kaduna Govt Confirms Eight Deaths, 68 Suspected Cases

By Babatunde Solanke

The Kaduna State Government has confirmed that it recorded 68 suspected cases and eight deaths from diphtheria in the state.

Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that usually affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat.

The Director of Public Health, Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Hamza Ibrahim-Ikara, made this disclosure on Tuesday, 25 June, 2023 during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna.

Ibrahim-Ikara said the suspected cases were from four local government areas of the state, which included Makarfi, Kubau, Jema’a (Kafanchan) and Kaduna North.

He added that five of the fatalities were from Jema’a and three from Makarfi.

“We still have one suspected case in Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital now.”

The director said that 28 samples had been taken to the laboratory, and they were awaiting the results.

“For now, they are all suspected cases; there is 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 urged residents to report suspected cases to the nearest health facilities across the state.

He said the state government was prioritising routine immunisation to ensure all children were fully vaccinated against the disease.