THE SPREAD OF DIPHTHERIA
Health authorities should embark on mass vaccination against the disease Following a recent outbreak of diphtheria in Kano State which killed scores of children in Rano Local Government Area, we warned health
The recent outbreak of diphtheria in Kano State, resulting in the deaths of numerous children, has highlighted the urgent need for mass vaccination across Nigeria. Health authorities must heed the warning and work together to prevent the spread of this highly contagious bacterial infection. Although once endemic only in the Caribbean and Spanish countries, diphtheria has resurfaced in Nigeria due to inadequate pre-emptive measures.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) must collaborate with state health authorities to address this issue.
In 2022, NCDC issued surveillance guidelines for diphtheria, but the lack of action has led to hundreds of deaths nationwide. According to Professor Oyewale Tomori, only 60% of Nigerians are vaccinated against diphtheria, with potentially up to 87 million unvaccinated individuals, most of whom are children under five years old. Factors contributing to the diphtheria outbreak include low vaccine coverage, inadequate storage and transportation, poor response systems, and citizen awareness.
To combat diphtheria, government intervention at all levels is crucial. Mass vaccination campaigns, improved hospital infrastructure, and collaboration between education and health authorities are necessary. Implementing vaccination requirements for school admissions and booster shots after a certain period could help eradicate this disease. Finally, health authorities should isolate infected persons and initiate mass vaccination efforts to prevent further spread.
Written by urgent.news from This Day's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
