The Nasarawa State Ministry of Health has confirmed an ongoing diphtheria outbreak in the state, with 15 confirmed cases recorded across three Local Government Areas.
The Director of Public Health in the ministry, Dr. Attah Peter, disclosed this during an interview in Lafia, the state capital.
According to him, the affected children are aged between two months and 11 years, with Keffi accounting for the highest number of cases. Eleven cases were recorded in Keffi, while Lafia has three and Wamba has one.
Dr. Attah said most of the affected children were not adequately immunised, attributing the outbreak largely to missed routine vaccinations by parents and caregivers.
He stressed that children who do not receive recommended vaccines remain vulnerable to diphtheria even at older ages, urging parents to ensure their children complete their routine immunisation schedules.
The Public Health Director noted that, unlike the previous year when the state recorded fatalities from diphtheria, no death has been recorded from the current outbreak, which he attributed to early detection and prompt treatment.
Vaccines and treatment have been made available at the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia, and other designated health facilities to manage affected patients.
Dr. Attah urged parents and caregivers to take advantage of the free routine immunisation services available at Primary Healthcare Centres across Nasarawa State.
He explained that children should receive recommended vaccines from birth through 18 months, including booster doses, while also encouraging eligible girls to receive the HPV vaccine as part of efforts to prevent cervical cancer.
Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that can affect the throat and cause serious complications, including breathing difficulties and heart problems, if not detected and treated promptly.
