BREAKING: Nigeria confirms outbreak of new infection, records 25 deaths

Nigeria on Friday confirmed a new outbreak of the infection of the nose and throat, otherwise known as Diphtheria.

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) in a public health advisory issued on Friday morning, confirmed that no fewer than 25 people have reportedly died of the disease in Kano State, North-West Nigeria.

The Centers for Disease Control, however, noted that it has responded to “reports of diphtheria cases in Lagos and Kano States and is monitoring the situation in Osun and Yobe States where cases are currently being picked up”.

While the NCDC is yet to provide data on the number of infections and deaths recorded in the state, the Kano State Commissioner for Health, Aminu Tsanyawa, on Thursday confirmed that the Diphtheria outbreak has killed no less than 25 people in the state.

The commissioner told the online newspaper that the state’s rapid response team has been reactivated and indexed an action plan to check the spread of the deadly disease in the state.

However, the NCDC said it is now working with state health ministries and partners to improve surveillance and response to the outbreak.

About Diphtheria

The NCDC explains that diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection caused by a bacterium called Corynebacterium species that affects the nose, throat and sometimes, the skin of humans.

It is noted that the people most at risk of contracting diphtheria are children and adults who have not received one or one dose of the pentavalent vaccine (a vaccine containing diphtheria toxoid), people living in crowded environments, in areas with poor sanitation and health workers who are exposed to suspected or confirmed cases of diphtheria.

On transmission, the NCDC added that the disease is easily spread between people through direct contact with an infected person, droplets from coughing or sneezing and contact with contaminated clothing and items.

Symptoms of diphtheria are fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes (conjunctivitis) and swelling of the neck. In severe cases, the NCDC says thick gray or white patches appear on the tonsils and/or at the back of the throat associated with difficulty breathing.

Arrest

In terms of prevention of the disease, NCDC urges parents to ensure that their children are fully vaccinated against diphtheria with three doses of the pentavalent vaccine as recommended in the childhood immunization schedule.

He added that health workers should be alert and vigilant if there are symptoms of diphtheria, and people with signs and symptoms indicating diphtheria should isolate themselves and notify the local government area, the state disease control officer or NCDC through the toll-free line (6232). ).

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It also recommends that “close contacts of confirmed diphtheria cases should be closely monitored, given antibiotic prophylaxis and start diphtheria antitoxin treatment when indicated, while all health workers with high-risk cases should be vaccinated against diphtheria.”