Diphtheria Outbreak: Nigeria records 836 cases, 83 deaths– NPHCDA

836 confirmed cases of diphtheria have been reported in 33 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in eight states, including Cross River, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Lagos, Osun, Yobe, and FCT, according to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

The fact that 83 deaths had been reported from these confirmed cases was also revealed. This makes vaccination against this terrible disease absolutely essential, especially for kids.

While revealing this on Monday during a press conference on the diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director of NPHCDA, said that despite the Federal Government's efforts to provide safe and affordable vaccines, a significant number of children remain unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated, compromising the country's goal of achieving population immunity.

Insufficient vaccine coverage, according to Shuaib's addition, has been the primary cause of these epidemics, with children between the ages of 2 and 14 being the most severely affected.

Shuaib revealed, however, that the NPHCDA is coordinating the required resources to successfully address this outbreak in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, NCDC, the states, and their partners. A thorough response strategy has been implemented to identify cases quickly, stop the spread, and stop further transmission using a multi-phased approach.

“To facilitate our immediate response plan, we are leveraging surveillance data from NCDC and direct information from the states to ensure effective planning and resource deployment.

“The Agency is working closely with partners to ensure adequate supplies of Tetanus Td for children 4 to 14 years and Pentavalent vaccines for children under 4 years.

“Currently, we are collaborating with the affected state teams and other stakeholders to conduct intensified mass vaccinations for identified at-risk populations in the affected states, administering pentavalent and tetanus & diphtheria vaccines.

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