Diphtheria responsible for killing 10 Kaduna children – Governor

The Kaduna State Ministry of Health has linked the deaths of 10 children in some communities in Kafanchan, Jemaá Local Government Area of the state, to an outbreak of diphtheria disease.

The state governor, Uba Sani, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Shehu, said following the deaths of the children due to a strange disease, he directed the emergency health team to immediately investigate the matter.

He noted that the confirmation came after several reports were made about residents in Takau Ward, Kafanchan A and Kafanchan B wards, exhibiting symptoms listed as difficulty in breathing, high fever, cough, general body weakness, sore throat, and neck swelling.

“Upon learning about the unfortunate loss of lives in the affected communities, His Excellency Senator Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna State, immediately directed the Kaduna State Ministry of Health to send an emergency team to investigate these cases.

“A preliminary report from the Ministry revealed that the outbreak of diphtheria in Kafanchan had its first recorded case at the beginning of July 2023,” the statement said.

The governor, while commending the health officials for their prompt response to the health emergency, urged them to continue to carry out their tasks diligently to ensure that the disease was contained and subsequently eradicated.

The statement added that “actions taken by the ministry so far include the movement of affected cases to adequately equipped hospitals for proper management, active case searches, contact tracing and intensive community sensitisation in all affected communities and surrounding areas.”

The statement also said residents were also advised to take steps to prevent the spread of the disease and protect our communities.

It added that residents should ensure that they “wash their hands frequently with soap and water; avoid close contact with people who are sick; cover their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing; stay home from work or school if they are sick; stay active and walk every day to boost immunity and report any suspected cases of diphtheria in their surrounding communities.”