Out of the 11,587 suspected cases spread throughout 105 Local Government Areas in 18 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, the Federal Government confirmed 7,202 cases of diphtheria on Monday.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and other development partners all signed a joint press release announcing this on behalf of the FG.
According to the announcement, Kano has 6,185 confirmed cases, which is the majority of all cases.
Yobe (640), Katsina (213), Borno (95), Kaduna (16), Jigawa (14), Bauchi (8), Lagos (8), FCT (5), Gombe (5), Osun (3), Sokoto (3), Niger (2), Cross River (1), Enugu (1), IMO (1), Nasarawa (1), and Zamfara (1 are other states having instances).
It was noted that children aged one to 14 years accounted for 5,299 of the confirmed cases, or 73.6%, with those five to 14 years old bearing the brunt of the illness.
A case fatality rate of 6.3% has been recorded thus far based on a total of 453 verified cases.
However, the government said that since the disease’s emergence in December 2022, it has been coordinating surveillance and response actions across the nation.
The Executive Director of the NPHCDA and the Director General of the NCDC co-chaired the national emergency task team that was established by the honorable Coordinating Minister of the FMOH&SW, Prof. Ali Pate, for higher level coordination of outbreak response efforts in light of the outbreak’s escalation and the finding that 80% of confirmed cases in the ongoing outbreak are unvaccinated.
“This involves ensuring the best possible cooperation in this struggle amongst all pertinent health stakeholders. The Federal Ministry of Information, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the USCDC, USAID, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, other non-governmental organizations, and development partners are also prominent members of the task force, according to the statement.
One of the normal children vaccinations offered in Nigeria protects against the vaccine-preventable illness of diphtheria, which is brought on by a toxin produced by the bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
Given the most afflicted age group and findings of the countrywide diphtheria immunity study, which reveal that only 42% of children under 15 years old are totally protected against diphtheria, a historical gap in vaccine coverage is the cause of the epidemic.
“For the first time during a diphtheria outbreak, the FMOH&SW obtained diphtheria antitoxin and, more subsequently, intravenous erythromycin and delivered them to the afflicted states with assistance from the NCDC and WHO.
“Diphtheria Treatment Centers/Wards have been created in impacted states with assistance from partners and in coordination with the State Ministry of Health.
By the NPHCDA, regular diphtheria immunization has been stepped up and vaccination programs have been restarted in 33 LGAs in Bauchi, Katsina, Yobe, Kano, and Kaduna. For three extensive epidemic response operations in 56 LGAs across seven priority states—Buchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Yobe—we mobilized procurement of vaccinations and crucial logistics, the report said.
The government recommended parents to make sure their children receive the three doses of the pentavalent diphtheria antitoxin vaccine offered as part of Nigeria’s childhood immunization regimen in order to properly immunize their children against diphtheria.
“While treating all patients in their care, healthcare professionals should keep a high index of suspicion for diphtheria and follow conventional infection prevention and control protocols.
“All healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, lab scientists, support personnel, etc.) who are exposed to cases of diphtheria often should receive the diphtheria vaccine.
It continued, “Individuals with signs and symptoms suggestive of diphtheria should promptly present to a healthcare facility or designated diphtheria treatment centers and, where possible, they and/or healthcare workers should notify their LGA, State Disease Surveillance Officer, their State Ministry of Health helpline, or the NCDC through our toll-free line on 6232.”
