An outbreak of diphtheria infection in Kano State since last week Friday has, as of Thursday, claimed not less than 25 lives, The PUNCH reports.
He said the low routine immunisation, which escalated the spread of the disease, was due to the hard-to-reach areas in the state.Besides the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital designated, as an isolation centre, Tsanyawa said other isolation centres would be established, to check the spread.When contacted, a communications officer at the NCDC, Oluwadamilare Olowoshile, told The PUNCH that the agency is aware of the outbreak.
He said, “The NCDC is aware of it and we have commenced investigations already, we are working on an advisory on Diphtheria to sensitise the public on it and when it is ready, we will share it with the media.”Meanwhile, experts say there is a need to increase the vaccination rate in the county to curb the spread of the disease.
An infectious disease expert at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Dr Iorhen Akase said, “As a country, the most important thing to do is to increase the vaccination rate because the DPT vaccine is one of the vaccines given to children in the immunisation schedule. “The disease is one of the childhood diseases and it can kill, it can cause paralysis. The symptoms range from sore throat, and difficulty with breathing and that can kill. Of course, it is not on the same scale with Lassa fever or Ebola virus disease but it happens sporadically, and adults are at risk too.”
Also, a Professor of Public Health, Tanimola Akande, said, “Diphtheria infection is a vaccine-preventable respiratory infection. Outbreaks of Diphtheria are uncommon following the vaccination of children with the DPT vaccine in the past and the pentavalent vaccine currently. The occurrence of the outbreak is due to poor vaccination coverage, particularly low routine childhood immunisation coverage,” Akande said.All rights reserved.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Kano govt confirms Diphtheria infection outbreak, 25 killedThe Kano Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr Aminu Tsanyawa, on Thursday, confirmed the outbreak of the deadly Diphtheria disease which is reported to have killed no fewer than 25 persons in the state.
Read more »
Makinde absent at PDP rally in Oyo -- but Atiku hails him for 'well organised' event | TheCableThe Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday, took its presidential campaign rally to Oyo state.
Read more »
15 killed as Diphtheria hits Kano - Daily TrustAt least, 15 people have been killed from probable cases of diphtheria in Kano State as of January 18, Dr Abdullahi Kauran-Mata, the state Epidemiologist has said.
Read more »
Eight parties sign peace accord in KanoEight political parties on Wednesday in Kano signed a peace accord to ensure peaceful conduct of the 2023 general elections.
Read more »
Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know this Thursday morningGood morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers: 1. The Edo State Government has confirmed the arrest of two village chiefs in connection
Read more »
N500m theft: Court remands judges, cashiers in KanoA cashier with the Kano State Sharia Court Division, Hussaina Imam, and 14 others including judges and registrars were on Wednesday evening arraigned and remanded in a correctional centre for allegedly committing offences bordering on criminal conspiracy, joint act, criminal breach of trust by public servants, theft and forgery.
Read more »