The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Prevention has counted approximately 15,060 possible cases of diphtheria infections as of October 19.
The NCDC, however, reported that out of the suspected cases, 9,478 were verified across 137 Local Government Areas in 20 states, including the Federal Capital Territory.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the Director General of NCDC, Ifedayo Adetifa, disclosed that a majority of the confirmed cases (71.5 percent) were in the age group of one to 14 years, with infants accounting for less than one percent of the cases.
Data also revealed that Kano, the epicenter of the outbreak, recorded the highest number of cases at 7,747, followed by Yobe with 841 cases.
Diphtheria is a severe bacterial infection caused by the corynebacterium species bacteria, which primarily affects an individual’s nose, throat, and, in some instances, the skin.
The symptoms of diphtheria encompass fever, a runny nose, a sore throat, coughing, red eyes (conjunctivitis), and swelling of the neck. In more severe cases, the NCDC reported that a thick gray or white patch can develop on the tonsils or at the back of the throat, which can be accompanied by breathing difficulties.
For a more detailed breakdown of diphtheria cases, the Director General of NCDC stated that Bauchi state had 369 infections, followed by Katsina with 275 cases, Borno with 164, Jigawa with 24, Kaduna with 18, Lagos with eight, Zamfara with seven, the FCT with seven, Gombe with five, Sokoto with four, Osun with three, and Niger state with two cases of diphtheria.
He further noted that Cross River, Enugu, Imo, Nasarawa, Kebbi, and Taraba each reported one case of diphtheria infection.
Additionally, during the briefing, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, reported that a significant number of children have received essential vaccines. Specifically, a total of 1,692,762 children aged between six months and four years have been successfully administered the Pentavalent vaccine, a crucial defense against this ailment.
Dr. Shuaib further stated that an impressive 3,166,419 children, aged four to 14 years, have also been inoculated with Td vaccines. This vaccination effort is substantially enhancing the country’s resilience against the disease among children and teenagers.
“The phase two round one of our outbreak response using diphtheria vaccines commenced on 23 September and has unfolded in seven states, encompassing 56 LGAs that are profoundly impacted by the ongoing outbreak,” he said.
He emphasized that the extent and influence of this collaborative initiative have been truly extraordinary.
Dr. Shuaib highlighted the dedication of Kano state to this mission, having successfully immunized 1,111,310 children with Td vaccines and 544,737 children with Pentavalent vaccines in this second phase.
In addition, he mentioned that Katsina, another area significantly affected by the outbreak, has administered Td vaccines to 403,252 children and Pentavalent vaccines to 255,075 children.
“Similarly, Kaduna, Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, and Yobe have not faltered in their efforts either, collectively securing the health and well-being of hundreds of thousands of children through dedicated vaccination campaigns,” he said.
Meanwhile, the head of the NCDC reported that National Rapid Response Teams have been dispatched to states grappling with the outbreak, delivering on-site surveillance and response assistance.
However, he noted that security concerns have hindered access to certain areas within affected Local Government Areas (LGAs).
“The laboratory network has been instrumental in conducting preliminary and confirmatory testing at both sub-national and national levels,” he said.
“Currently, there are 18 laboratories in the diphtheria laboratory network across 13 states, with ongoing optimization efforts in Jigawa and Zamfara states.”
He further mentioned that the agency has conducted training sessions and offered technical assistance to laboratory staff throughout various states. Emphasizing the significance of risk communication and community engagement in managing the outbreak.
During his speech, Dr. Walter Mulombo, the WHO country representative, expressed gratitude for the dedication of responders and healthcare workers who have been actively involved in patient care, surveillance, laboratory testing, and vaccine administration.
He was represented by Edwardo Celades, UNICEF’s Chief of Health, who underscored the remarkable accomplishments made within a relatively short time frame, including the vaccination of millions of children.
“This success is attributed to the leadership of the NCDC, NPHCDA, and the Federal Ministry of Health, as well as the unwavering commitment of the frontline workers,” he said.