Government must embark on massive vaccination against the disease
The diphtheria outbreak that has reportedly killed over 50 children in Rano Local Government Area of Kano State is very concerning. Although emergency measures had been taken, including the purchase of medication and deployment of health workers to the affected communities, further intervention is reportedly needed to contain the outbreak. This is more so as the Federal Teaching Hospital in neighbouring Katsina State is reportedly under pressure with suspected and confirmed cases in its children ward. While it remains a shame that Nigerians are burdened with these preventable diseases, especially at this period, we hope that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) will work with health authorities to stop the disease from further spreading.
Until about 15 years ago, this serious and highly contagious bacterial infection was known to be endemic only in the Caribbean and Spanish countries. Diphtheria affects the throat and nose and can lead to difficulty in breathing, heart rhythm problems, lungs, kidney issues, and ultimately death. Like many other African countries that do not take pre-emptive measures against looming diseases, Nigeria’s poor vaccination for Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus (DPT) has become the finger-bed for the incessant outbreaks of the disease in the country since 2011.
