15 Diphtheria Cases Hit Nasarawa: Government Charged on Proactive Measures, Clean Water
Health experts in Nasarawa State have called on the government and residents to adopt proactive measures to prevent the further spread of diphtheria following the confirmation of 15 cases in three Local Government Areas of the state.
The experts stressed the need for intensified disease surveillance, improved hygiene, access to clean water, contact tracing and stronger routine immunisation as health authorities step up efforts to contain the outbreak.
Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that primarily affects the nose and throat and, in some cases, the skin. Although it can affect people of all ages, children are particularly vulnerable.
The disease has been reported in several parts of Nigeria in recent years, with outbreaks resulting in deaths, particularly among children who are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated.
15 Cases Confirmed in Three LGAs
The Director of Public Health in the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health, Dr. Peter Attah, disclosed that 15 cases had so far been confirmed in Lafia, Wamba and Keffi Local Government Areas.
He made this known during a press briefing in Lafia, the state capital.
“As it stands currently in Nasarawa State, we have 15 confirmed cases of diphtheria. We have recorded three cases in Lafia Local Government Area, one in Wamba and 11 cases in Keffi. This is a wake-up call and more work for us to prevent further spread of the disease,”
Dr. Attah said.
Poor Hygiene, Unsafe Water Raise Concerns
The outbreak has heightened concerns over hygiene practices in some communities, particularly areas where residents have limited access to safe water.
In parts of Lafia, residents have been observed sharing water from streams with livestock, a practice that health experts say exposes communities to a range of health risks and underscores the need for improved access to safe and clean water.
Experts therefore urged government authorities to complement disease-control measures with interventions that promote environmental hygiene, safe water practices and public health education.
Health Agency Calls for Stronger Immunisation
The Director of Immunization at the Nasarawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Comrade Ayuba Okoh, described the emergence of the new cases as a surprise and called for renewed efforts to strengthen routine immunisation.
He said adequate doses of pentavalent vaccines were available at primary healthcare facilities across the state.
“Presently, we have enough doses of pentavalent vaccines in all primary health care facilities across Nasarawa State. The reported new cases of diphtheria in the state came as a surprise. It means those children affected did not take the full doses of the vaccine.
“Parents and caregivers are expected to present their children three times for the required doses of the vaccines against diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases. We shall step up intensive campaigns,”
Okoh assured.
Three Children Died in Lafia
The Lafia Local Government Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer, Abubakar Mohammed, and the Immunization Officer, Jibrin Umar, expressed concern over the outbreak and called for adequate logistics to intensify sensitisation campaigns, particularly in hard-to-reach communities.
Abubakar Mohammed disclosed that three children in Lafia who exhibited symptoms suspected to be diphtheria died before laboratory results confirming the disease were received.
“In Lafia Local Government, three children suspected to have diphtheria based on the symptoms presented had their samples taken for testing. Unfortunately, before the results came out, which later tested positive for diphtheria, they had died.
“We have not recorded another case since then, but we have embarked on contact tracing,”
he said.
Surveillance Strengthened Across State
The Permanent Secretary, Nasarawa State Ministry of Health, Dr. Ibrahim Alhassan, said surveillance personnel had been strengthened and deployed across the state as part of efforts to contain the spread of diphtheria and other contagious diseases.
Dr. Alhassan urged health workers to establish stronger communication channels to facilitate the prompt reporting and response to suspected cases in communities.
With 15 confirmed cases already recorded across three LGAs, health experts say Nasarawa must move beyond reactive measures by strengthening routine immunisation, disease surveillance, contact tracing, public awareness, environmental hygiene and access to safe water.
They stressed that early detection, prompt treatment and full vaccination remain critical to preventing the outbreak from spreading to other parts of the state.
From Radio Nigeria Online
