A diphtheria OUTBREAK has claimed the lives of 23 people and 143 others suspected to have come into contact with the disease in Jos North local government area of ​​Plateau State.
The event has caused serious concerns among state health officials, who have intervened to limit the spread of the disease.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Ba’am-Nigerian Ristos, said the outbreak of the disease is mainly in Jos North local government, adding that the government is making efforts to prevent the spread to neighboring local governments.
“In fact, there is an outbreak of diphtheria in the state. As of today, we have 143 suspected cases and we have lost 23 patients. Some of the patients are receiving treatment at Jos Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and Plateau State Specialist Hospital,” he said.
“We have made a lot of efforts to stabilize the situation and prevent further escalation. The Rikkos community is the most affected. The most unfortunate thing is that there are no antitoxins for treatment, so we use antibiotics. It spreads through coughing, sneezing and contact with the affected person,” he said.
Earlier, Jos North local government Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer Baks Bulus said 15 deaths occurred within three days of the disease outbreak and warned that additional cases may emerge if urgent preventive measures are not taken.
He said the development came barely two days after a family in Jos reportedly lost two children to the suspected infection.
Explaining the mode of transmission, Bulus said diphtheria is a bacterial infection that can spread quickly from one person to another, particularly between close contacts.
He added that people who share personal items such as utensils and towels with infected people risk contracting the disease.
“It continues to spread when people come into close contact with an infected patient,” he said.
“For children who have been vaccinated, the effects may not be many and may not cause death. But for a child who has not been vaccinated or has not completed the required doses, it can be fatal,” he said.
He urged residents, particularly those in affected communities, to maintain good personal hygiene and report suspicious symptoms to government health facilities.
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“People should maintain good personal hygiene and avoid overcrowded places. We advise residents to visit the nearest health center because early detection is key to saving lives,” he said.
However, he said local government health personnel had been sent to affected communities to intensify surveillance and sensitize residents on measures to prevent further spread of the disease.
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