Diphtheria outbreak kills 15 in Nigeria
At least 15 people died in Nigeria after contracting diphtheria, a bacterial infection that primarily affects the respiratory system, a health official said Tuesday.The deaths were...
At least 15 people have died in Nigeria due to a diphtheria outbreak, according to district health official Baks Bulus. The fatalities occurred within three days of the outbreak, with 117 other cases confirmed in Jos North Local Government Area in Plateau State. Bulus characterized the situation as alarming and cautioned that additional cases might emerge as health authorities continue monitoring affected communities.
Diphtheria spreads through close contact with an infected individual. Close contacts who share utensils or towels with an infected person are at risk of contracting the disease. However, diphtheria is preventable through vaccination. In a separate incident last week, over 30 children in Kano State, northwest Nigeria, died from suspected diphtheria.
Nigeria has experienced recurrent diphtheria outbreaks in recent years, leading health authorities to launch vaccination campaigns in vulnerable communities and states.
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