The number of confirmed diphtheria cases in Nigeria has risen to 123, as reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, the Director General of the NCDC, shared this information on Monday in response to an inquiry from The This. In light of this situation, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, emphasized the importance of vaccination for children, particularly as the country continues to contend with outbreaks of Lassa fever, measles, meningitis, and yellow fever.
Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection caused by the Corynebacterium species, which primarily affects the nose and throat, and can sometimes impact the skin. The disease spreads easily through direct contact with infected individuals, respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing, and contact with contaminated clothing or objects. According to Dr. Adetifa, the confirmed cases have been reported in Kano, Lagos, Yobe, and Osun States, with Kano State experiencing the highest number of cases and fatalities. As of January 22, there have been 123 confirmed cases and 38 deaths across the country. Specifically, Kano State has recorded 100 confirmed cases and 32 deaths, while Yobe State has reported 17 confirmed cases and three deaths. Lagos State has five confirmed cases and three deaths, and Osun State has one confirmed case.
During a ministerial press briefing in Abuja, Dr. Ehanire reiterated that diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease and urged the public to ensure they are vaccinated. He stated, “The vaccines are available, and we need cooperation and uptake.” Dr. Priscilla Ibekwe, the Director of Special Duties and Partnership at the NCDC, also addressed the issue, noting that the agency is collaborating with state Ministries of Health and partners to enhance surveillance and response efforts regarding the outbreak. Representing the DG at the briefing, Ibekwe warned that there may be more cases emerging from additional states. She highlighted that the country has a sub-optimal coverage rate of 54 percent for the third dose of the diphtheria-containing pentavalent vaccine, based on the 2021 MICS and NICS data, which could lead to an increase in cases.
In addition to diphtheria, Ibekwe reported a rise in suspected meningitis cases, with preliminary reports indicating 117 suspected and 12 confirmed cases, resulting in a case fatality rate of 27 percent from week 49 of 2022 to week two of 2023. Due to the proximity of Jigawa to Yobe and Katsina states, the NCDC has dispatched Rapid Response Team members to assess and improve preparedness and to conduct active case finding for Cerebrospinal Meningitis to facilitate early detection.
Furthermore, the NCDC has reported that Nigeria has tested a total of 5,831,134 COVID-19 samples, confirming 266,463 cases. Of these, 259,850 individuals have been discharged, while 3,155 deaths have been recorded across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
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