The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 798 diphtheria cases in eight states across 33 local government areas.
According to the centre, the mortality toll has also risen to 80. The case-fatality ratio of 10% as of June 30, 2023.
The NCDC publicized the discovery of the first verified case of diphtheria in the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday in a press release, signed by its Director General, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa.
The sickness claimed the life of a four-year-old kid in the FCT’s Deidei District, according to a report released on Monday by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
The NCDC stated that the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat activated the diphtheria Incident Management System to coordinate outbreak response efforts.
According to the report, as of July 3, 2023, the FCT has only discovered one confirmed case. However, there are seven suspected cases testing negative and others awaiting laboratory findings.
Furthermore, the public health institution has documented instances of diphtheria in certain states since December 2022. Such states include Kano, Lagos, Yobe, Katsina, and the FCT.
With 782 instances, Kano State is claimed to be in the lead.
“The majority (71.7 per cent) of the 798 confirmed cases occurred among children aged two to 14 years. So far, a total of 80 deaths have been recorded among all confirmed cases (case fatality rate of 10.0 per cent),” it said.
Nigeria offers one of the normal childhood vaccinations that protect against diphtheria, a vaccine-preventable illness. The bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheriae brings on this disease by producing a toxin.
According to the NCDC, the majority—82%—of the 798 confirmed diphtheria cases in the present outbreak were unvaccinated. This is despite the safe and affordable vaccination being available in the nation.
“Unfortunately, this also includes this recently announced FCT case. Historical sub-optimal vaccination coverage is the main driver of the outbreak given the most affected age group (two-14-year-olds) observed and a national survey of diphtheria immunity that found less than half (41.7 per cent) of children under 15 years old are fully protected from diphtheria.
“Just like in other States reporting cases, we are working with the FCT Health and Human Services Department to implement control measures and avert the further spread of the disease,” the agency noted.
cc: Punch Ng
