The Plateau State Ministry of Health has confirmed 23 deaths and 143 suspected cases of diphtheria in an outbreak that has swept across the state over the past two weeks. The disclosure was made by the State Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Baamlong, during an interview with journalists in Jos on Tuesday, September 1.
Government Response and Quarantine Measures
Baamlong stated that the state government and his ministry have intensified efforts to contain the spread of the infectious disease. He said this includes the immediate quarantine of identified patients while they receive treatment at Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and Plateau Specialist Hospital.
The affected patients are being treated in isolation, while the government has activated awareness campaigns across communities through traditional rulers and other stakeholders to curtail further transmission, the commissioner added.
Nature of Diphtheria and Diagnostic Challenges
Baamlong explained that diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial disease that can spread from person to person through respiratory droplets and close contact. He noted that the state is facing difficulties in confirming suspected cases due to the unavailability of specialised containers required for collecting and transporting samples to laboratories.
“So far, we have 143 suspected cases; we have had 23 deaths and nine currently on admission at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH, and the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos,” Baamlong said. He added that the biggest challenges facing the ministry following the outbreak are late presentation and obtaining antitoxin, as diphtheria can spread very quickly through contact, coughing, sneezing and close association.
Community Awareness and Prevention Efforts
“We are having challenges with the diagnosis because the sample is supposed to be collected in a special container so that we can send it for confirmation, but we do not have such containers,” the commissioner said. He assured that the state government has stepped up sensitisation efforts at the community level, leveraging traditional rulers and other stakeholders to educate residents about the disease and ways to prevent its spread.
“We have so far activated awareness campaigns in communities through traditional rulers and other stakeholders to curtail the spread,” Baamlong stated. The outbreak continues to pose a significant public health challenge, with the ministry focusing on containment and treatment of existing cases while working to overcome diagnostic and supply hurdles.
