The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaibu, on Wednesday disclosed that no fewer than 20 people have died from the outbreak of diphtheria infection in Kaduna State.
Shuaibu, who spoke at the Kaduna Diphtheria Treatment Centre at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital in the state capital, also said that Kaduna has recorded 156 cases of the disease since the outbreak began in March 2023.
He urged the public to adhere to the stipulated safety protocols and to be conscious of the symptoms of diphtheria to enable them to get prompt treatment.
“Kaduna State ranks among the six, seven states that has the largest number of Diphtheria cases,” he stated.
“Since March when the outbreak was first detected in Kaduna, they have seen 156 cases and about 20 deaths. That is high for Diphtheria“.
Diphtheria is caused by the corynebacterium bacteria species that affects the nose, throat and sometimes, skin of an individual. Its symptoms include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes and difficulty in breathing.
The NPHCDA boss admonished patients to report to healthcare facilities early enough to be vaccinated againstthe infection.
