According to the federal ministry of health, 171 local government areas (LGAs) in 14 states are very susceptible to the development of the diphtheria outbreak.
All 144 LGAs in the states of Kano, Katsina, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Yobe, Kaduna, and Bauchi are included in the list of 171 LGAs.
20 adjacent LGAs in the states of Gombe, Jigawa, Borno, Nasarawa, Plateau, and Zamfara are also included, along with seven LGAs each in Lagos and Osun.
Olufunsho Adebiyi, the permanent secretary of the ministry, reported that 25 LGAs in the states of Bauchi, Katsina, Yobe, and Kaduna have active diphtheria epidemics based on real-time surveillance data.
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), states, and partners are working with the Federal Ministry of Health to mobilize all the resources required to effectively address the outbreak and intensify mass vaccination of the populations at risk identified in order to stop the ongoing diphtheria outbreak in two phases.
Adebiyi said;
“A comprehensive response plan has been activated to ensure early detection, containment of cases, as well as preventing further transmission through a multi-phased response strategy.”
Diphtheria which affects the respiratory system, has symptoms which include fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, neck swelling and difficulty in breathing. It could lead to death if left untreated.