The Kaduna State Government says it has recorded 68 suspected cases and eight deaths from diphtheria in the state.

The Director of Public Health, Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Hamza Ibrahim-Ikara, made this known in Kaduna on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that usually affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat.

Ibrahim-Ikara said the cases were from four local government areas (LGAs) of the state, which included Makarfi, Kubau, Jema’a (Kafanchan), and Kaduna North.

He stated that five of the fatalities were from Jema’a, and three from Makarfi.

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“We still have one suspected case in Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital now,” he added.

The director said 28 samples had been taken to the laboratory, and they were awaiting the results, adding: “For now, they are all suspected cases, no confirmation yet until the results are out.”

According to him, contact tracing and active search are also ongoing to curb transmission.

He said the Rapid Response Team was carrying out media and door-to-door sensitisation campaigns in communities, urging residents to report suspected cases to the nearest health facilities across the state.

Ibrahim-Ikara said the Kaduna State Government was prioritising routine immunisation to ensure all children were fully vaccinated against the disease.

The Star