Plateau reports 469 suspected diphtheria cases and 31 deaths

Plateau State has recorded 469 suspected diphtheria cases and 31 deaths as authorities intensify efforts to contain an outbreak, Commissioner for Health Nicholas Ba’amlong said on Thursday. Ba’amlong said three of the suspected cases had been confirmed in laboratories and that the situation became a major public health concern in August after sporadic cases had been recorded earlier in the year. Ten local government areas have been affected.

Jos North has the largest reported total, with 370 suspected cases, followed by Wase with 29 and Jos South with 22. Barkin Ladi and Mangu each recorded 16. The state is conducting active case searches and contact tracing, while working with community leaders.

Mild cases are being diagnosed and treated in communities with oral medicines. Supplies have also been sent to Plateau State Specialist Hospital and Jos University Teaching Hospital for the isolation and treatment of severe cases. More than 160,000 children have received diphtheria and tetanus vaccines, and over 30,000 have received Pentavalent vaccines, the commissioner said.

Teachers in public and private schools in Jos North have been trained to recognise early signs of the disease. Ba’amlong said the state had activated an Incident Management System to coordinate agencies and partners, monitor the response, mobilise resources and communicate with the public. He urged residents and community leaders to support detection, tracing, vaccination and sensitisation efforts.

The state also plans continued coordination meetings and possible further vaccination activity.