Nigeria: Diphtheria - Katsina Hospital Overwhelmed As Officials Silent On Case, Death Figures
[Premium Times] The Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina says an influx of suspected and confirmed diphtheria cases has pushed its children's ward beyond capacity, as the state prepares to brief the public on the scale of the outbreak and its response.
An influx of suspected and confirmed diphtheria cases has overwhelmed the pediatric ward at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Katsina, as the state prepares to disclose the scale of the outbreak and response efforts. The hospital has reported severe overcrowding and high pressure on available bed spaces, with patients being referred from other health facilities across the state.
The hospital has not disclosed the number of children currently admitted, the number of laboratory-confirmed cases or deaths recorded. The federal government has activated an emergency multi-agency task force to strengthen outbreak investigation, intensify immunization, and expand access to treatment. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) have deployed resources to Katsina and Kano states.
However, details on the number of vaccine doses allocated to Katsina, the number of cases and deaths, and the LGAs most affected remain unclear. The government has directed the task force to mobilize additional support to the hospital, including diphtheria antitoxin, intravenous antibiotics, additional clinical personnel, and personal protective equipment.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
