By John Ikani
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria is currently grappling with an outbreak of diphtheria, as confirmed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The confirmation comes in the wake of the first reported case and unfortunate death of a four-year-old child in June.
In a statement released on Thursday, the NCDC revealed that since December 2022, the country has witnessed multiple outbreaks of diphtheria, with a total of 798 confirmed cases in eight states, including the FCT.
The cases have been reported in 33 Local Government Areas (LGAs), painting a concerning picture of the situation.
Among the confirmed cases, the NCDC reported a distressing 80 deaths, resulting in a case fatality rate of 10.0 percent.
Diphtheria, a highly contagious infection, poses a severe threat to individuals, particularly children, as it can lead to breathing difficulties and heart problems, potentially resulting in fatal outcomes.
According to the NCDC, Kano state has recorded the highest number of confirmed cases, followed by Lagos, Yobe, Katsina, Cross River, Kaduna, and Osun.
Shockingly, the majority of these cases (71.7 percent) affected children between the ages of 2 and 14 years.
Despite diphtheria being a preventable disease through vaccination, the NCDC emphasized that a staggering 82 percent (654 out of 798) of the confirmed cases from these ongoing outbreaks were unvaccinated individuals, a development that highlights the need for increased awareness and adherence to vaccination protocols.
In light of the situation, the NCDC urged parents and guardians to ensure their children receive the full course of three doses of antitoxin-containing pentavalent vaccine, as stipulated in Nigeria’s childhood immunization schedule.
By doing so, they can shield their children from the dangers posed by diphtheria.
Furthermore, the NCDC called upon healthcare workers to maintain a high level of vigilance when it comes to identifying potential cases of diphtheria.
Early detection and prompt response are crucial in curbing the spread of the infection and minimizing its impact on affected individuals.
