Plateau has recorded 148 suspected cases of diphtheria, with 23 deaths, as the state government distributes medications to hospitals to support treatment of affected patients.
Dr Nicholas Baamlong, Plateau’s Commissioner for Health, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Jos.
He said the state began recording children with symptoms suggestive of diphtheria in early August, particularly in densely populated communities in Jos North Local Government Area (LGA).
He said the government had since intensified sensitisation and vaccination campaigns in affected communities to contain the spread of the disease.
The commissioner said eight patients were currently receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), while another five were admitted at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, where isolation centres had been established for suspected cases.
He said the state government had alerted the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and requested materials needed for the collection and transportation of samples for laboratory confirmation.
According to him, materials have also been received to enable health officials collect samples from suspected cases and send them for testing.
Baamlong identified mild fever, sore throat, cough, difficulty in swallowing, weakness and the presence of a plaque at the back of the throat as some symptoms of diphtheria.
He expressed concern over the unavailability of diphtheria antitoxin in the country, saying the NCDC and the Federal Government were working to procure the treatment.
The commissioner urged parents to ensure that their children received and completed routine immunisation, noting that some of the affected children had either not been vaccinated or had incomplete vaccination.
He attributed some of the deaths to late presentation at health facilities and advised parents and caregivers to seek prompt medical attention when children developed symptoms.
Baamlong said the government was engaging traditional, religious and community leaders to encourage immunisation among residents.
He said consultations were also ongoing with school authorities over concerns that reopening schools could increase contact among children and facilitate further spread of the disease.
The commissioner called on residents to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene and avoid overcrowding as part of measures to prevent further transmission of the disease.
NAN reports that the medications were distributed to the Plateau Specialist hospital and JUTH, which are the isolation centres.
(NAN)
