According to reports, at least 25 people have died as a result of a diphtheria infection epidemic in Kano State since last Friday.
It was discovered that the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano are managing an epidemic of the infant killer disease, which was first identified in the state in late 2022.
Diphtheria infection is a dangerous infection of the nose and throat, according to medical professionals, and it is easily avoidable by immunizations.
Experts say that a sore throat, hoarseness, swollen glands (enlarged lymph nodes) in the neck, trouble breathing or quick breathing, nasal discharge, fever, and fatigue are some of the indications and symptoms of diphtheria.
According to information obtained by The PUNCH, the disease, which is thought to be contagious, was originally identified in the state’s Ungogo Local Government Area.
According to the state ministry of health’s records, at least 58 probable instances of the disease were recorded during the outbreak, six of them were admitted, and 25 patients had already passed away as of January 13, 2023.
The National Center for Disease Control, according to sources, sent medical personnel to the state last week due to the severity of the outbreak.
Doctors without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières, has already created a case management center at the Murtala Muhammed Hospital and has been supplying necessary medications.
The state emergency preparedness committee convened on Thursday morning to discuss the outbreak, according to Dr. Aminu Tsanyawa, the state commissioner for health, who confirmed the outbreak to press on Thursday.
He claimed that the State Rapid Response team had been revived and that an index action plan had been implemented to stop the spread of diphtheria.
“Right now we have presented a budget for this to the government and it has been approved,” the commissioner emphasised.
He said that the state’s difficult-to-reach areas were to blame for the low rate of routine immunization, which accelerated the disease’s spread.
However, he pointed out that the state is stepping up its routine immunization program.
