Diphtheria: Kaduna records 68 suspected cases, eight deaths

<p>The Kaduna State Government, says it has recorded 68 suspected cases and eight deaths from diphtheria in the state.</p>, <p>The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that usually affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat.</p>, <p>The Director of Public Health, Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Hamza Ibrahim-Ikara, disclosed this on Tuesday, in an interview with NAN, in Kaduna.</p>, <p>Ibrahim-Ikara said the suspected cases were from four local government areas (LGAs) of the state, which included Makarfi, Kubau, Jema’a (Kafanchan) and Kaduna North.</p>, <p>He added that five of the fatalities were from Jema’a, and three from Makarfi.</p>, <p>“We still have one suspected case in Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital now.”</p>, <p>The director said that 28 samples had been taken to the laboratory, and they were awaiting the results.</p>, <p>“For now, they are all suspected cases, no confirmation yet until the results are out.</p>, <p>According to him, contact tracing and active search are also ongoing to curb transmission.</p>, <p>He also said that the Rapid Response Team was carrying out media and door to door sensitisation campaigns in communities.</p>, <p>Ibrahim-Ikara urged residents to report suspected cases to the nearest health facilities across the state.</p>, <p>He said the state government was prioritising routine immunisation to ensure all children were fully vaccinated against the disease.</p>