Diphtheria: Edo Records 3 Deaths, 6 Confirmed Cases

Edo State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole has disclosed that three (3) deaths have been recorded from Diphtheria since the outbreak of the disease in the state.

Oshiomhole disclosed this at the weekend in Benin City in an interview with journalists, while giving an update on the outbreak of the disease in the state.

He said, “Since, we declared the outbreak of the disease, we have recorded 15 suspected cases.

“Out of these figures, we have recorded six confirmed cases and three deaths,” the commissioner revealed.

He further disclosed that the state has recorded seven cases of dengue fever, but with no death recorded.

According to Dr Oshiomhole, the five confirmed diphtheria cases were recorded in six local government areas of the state, assuring that there is no cause for alarm as the situation was under control.

The commissioner, who noted that diphtheria is a vaccine preventable disease, called on parents to bring their children for vaccination against the disease.

“When there is low vaccine coverage, an outbreak like this would definitely happen, and currently, we have 65 percent vaccine coverage, and we are going to carry out the vaccination of children,” he said.

Oshiomhole stressed that to ensure adequate vaccine coverage, the Director General of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NSCDC) has released 70 doses of anti-Diphtheria to the state while Governor Monday Okpebholo also secured another 20 doses from Delta State.

The commissioner added that the state has also donated IV fluid, bed, oxygen gas cylinder, personal protective equipment, among others, to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, where infected persons were being treated.

He disclosed further that the state government will vaccinate children between the age of 5 and 14, noting that teenagers who have been vaccinated were discovered to be affected by the disease.

He then called on parents and teachers to observe their children and pupils at home and in school, and act appropriately by taking unwell children to the hospital for prompt attention and treatment.

He, however, advised the people to clean their environment, ensure personal hygiene, give social distance, cough on elbow, regularly wash their hands, among others, to avoid being infected with the disease.