TheNewsGuru

Tag: Diptheria

  • Fresh outbreak of infectious disease kills 4 in Kano

    Fresh outbreak of infectious disease kills 4 in Kano

    No fewer than four children have reportedly lost their lives to diphtheria outbreak in Minjibir Local Government Area of Kano State.

    The Information Officer of the local government, Mr Tasiu Yahaya, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday in Kano.

    Yahaya said another 28 children were also infected with the disease.

    “Four children have been confirmed dead while 28 others infected with Diphtheria in Minjibir Local Government of Kano state.

    “The 28 children contracted the disease in the towns of Kwarkiya, Kuru, Kunya and Minjibir.

    “The Interim Management Officer of the local government, Muhammad Yakubu Kunya, has called on the authorities and stakeholders to immediately reach out to Minjibir local government to protect the health of the community.

    “On his part, the district head of the local government urged traditional rulers and the Scholars to stand up in enlighten the community and to pray for relief from the disease,” the statement reads.

    When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Health Ministry,  Mr Abdullahi Ibrahim, said that the case has been referred to the Director for Public Health for further investigation and confirmation.

  • Diptheria kills 10 in Jigawa as cases rise

    Diptheria kills 10 in Jigawa as cases rise

    Jigawa has recorded 91 suspected cases of diphtheria in 14 local government areas. It also suspects the loss of 10 children to the childhood infection.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Permanent Secretary, Jigawa Ministry of Health, Dr Salisu Muazu, disclosed this to newsmen on Saturday in Dutse.

    He said: “There has been diphtheria outbreak in the northern parts of Nigeria in the last four months. This is especially in neighbouring Kano, Yobe, Katsina and Bauchi states.

    “About two weeks ago, we received patients that had symptoms of diphtheria in 14 local government areas bordering states that already established the infection.

    “The National Reference Laboratory in Abuja confirmed two of the 91 suspected samples we sent to have tested positive to diphtheria”.

    Muazu further said the two confirmed samples were those from Kazaure and Jahun local government areas of Jigawa.

    He explained that majority of the victims were those that either did not receive complete immunisation or those that received zero dose of childhood immunisation.

    “In fact, in the last 10 years, we have not had diphtheria in Jigawa, but in those neighbouring states that now have the epidemic.

    “The reason why we have it now may be due to the COVID-19 period when healthcare services completely broke down,’’ he said.

    Muazu urged parents and community leaders to support and cooperate with health workers as government had concluded plans to conduct mop-up immunisation in affected local government areas.

    He also called on residents to promptly report persons with symptoms of diphtheria to Disease Notification Officers in the local government areas or to the nearest health facility.