Dr. Kabir during the press conference. CREDIT: Esha Aliku
Katsina State is battling a widening diphtheria outbreak, with suspected cases now reported in 29 of the state’s local government areas, forcing authorities to intensify emergency vaccination, surveillance and isolation measures.
Briefing journalists on Sunday in Katsina, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Shema’u Kabir, said Funtua had the highest burden, while Kankia, Bakori, Katsina, Mashi and Daura were also among the worst-affected areas.
“The government has responded with a reactive vaccination campaign targeting 15 high-risk wards in Bakori, Charanchi, Funtua, Mashi and Kankia.
“Within the first three days, 67,670 eligible people had received Td vaccines and 24,103 children had received Pentavalent vaccines, according to preliminary campaign figures.
