People’s Democratic Party Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over the reported Diphtheria that has spread to over 105 LGAs across 18 states of the federation, including the FCT, with 7,202 confirmed cases and 453 deaths, mostly of children below the age of 14.
The former Nigerian Vice President, who took to social media platforms while reacting to disease fast spreading, urged the Federal and the State Ministries of Health and Social Welfare, NCDC, primary healthcare authorities, and all relevant agencies to step up action to curtail spread which is quickly becoming an epidemic.
According to him, “The news of the outbreak of Diphtheria, a dangerous bacterial disease in the country, is worrisome. I am concerned that the media is reporting that the disease has spread to over 105 LGAs across 18 states of the federation, including the FCT, with 7,202 confirmed cases and 453 deaths, mostly of children below the age of 14.
My heart goes out to the families and parents of the victims of this dreaded disease. I urge the Federal and the State Ministries of Health and Social Welfare, the NCDC, the primary healthcare authorities, and all relevant agencies to step up action to curtail the spread of this disease, which is quickly becoming an epidemic”, Atiku said.
Guardian reports that about 7,202 confirmed cases of diphtheria and 453 deaths has been recorded in 105 Local Government Areas across 18 states in the country and the the Federal Capital Territory.
In a joint press statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, and other development partners.
While noted that a historical gap in vaccination coverage is a driver of the outbreak given that the most affected age group (5–14year-olds) and results of nationwide diphtheria immunity survey that shows only 42% of children under 15 years old are fully protected from diphtheria.
The agencies stated that the most effective protection against diphtheria is vaccination with the Pentavalent or TD vaccine adding that the Federal Government of Nigeria provides free, safe, and effective vaccines at all Primary Healthcare Centres nationwide.
According to the statement, most of the confirmed cases were recorded in Kano with 6,185 cases while Yobe state has 640 cases Katsina, 213 cases, Borno 95 cases , Kaduna (16) and Jigawa (14).
Others are Bauchi (eight), Lagos (eight), FCT (five), Gombe (five), Osun (three), Sokoto (three), Niger (two), Cross River (one), Enugu (one), IMO (one), Nasarawa (one) and Zamfara (one).
The statement revealed that 5,299 of the confirmed cases, representing 73.6 per cent, occurred among children aged one to 14 years with those aged five to 14 years bearing most of the brunt of the disease.
Government advised parents to ensure that their children are fully vaccinated against diphtheria with the three doses of diphtheria antitoxin-containing pentavalent vaccine given as part of Nigeria’s childhood immunisation schedule.
It urged healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for diphtheria and practice standard infection prevention and control precautions while handling all patients in their care.