17 Die In Niger Diphtheria Outbreak

Of the 124 cases of Diphtheria disease outbreak recorded in parts of Niger State, 17 deaths have been reported.

LEADERSHIP reports cases of diphtheria in Bida, Shiroro and Suleja local government areas of the state in recent months.

Confirming the outbreak of the disease to journalists, the commissioner for Health, Dr Murtala Muhammad Bagana, said there were 124 admitted cases , while 17 deaths were recorded, and 103 patients were discharged.

The commissioner said, “Government has strengthened disease surveillance, case management, immunisation and public awareness to curtail the disease and prevent further transmission.”

“However, the spread of the disease has been curtailed in Bida, Suleja and Shiroro local governments of the state. I can confirm that 124 cases of infection in the three local government areas were recorded in the last seven months and 103 people have been treated and discharged. Unfortunately, 17 people died,” he added.

Bagana decried the attitude of parents who deprived their children of immunisation/vaccinations to prevent childhood diseases such as diphtheria, measles and other vaccine-preventable infections.
He said the refusal of some parents to take such preventive vaccination was mainly responsible for the spread of the diphtheria disease outbreak in the state.

According to him, the government, in collaboration with development partners in the health sector, has given priority to immunisation against all childhood diseases, saying that “Vaccines are also available free at all primary healthcare centres in the state. ” He therefore urged parents and caregivers to ensure that their children receive the recommended vaccines.

He disclosed that any case of a parent preventing their children from getting immunisation/ vaccination would be treated as a criminal offence, and the government would prosecute such a parent.