At least 23 people have been killed by diphtheria outbreaks in several communities, including 143 others suspected to be infected in Jos North council area of Plateau.

The health commissioner, Nicholas Baamlong, disclosed this on Tuesday in Jos, the state capital. According to him, nine people are receiving treatment at Jos University Teaching Hospital and Plateau Specialist Hospital.

Mr Baamlong said the diphtheria patients were treated in isolation centres as the government stepped up surveillance and other containment measures across affected communities.

“The biggest challenge is getting antitoxin, and most of them are presenting late. We are having challenges with the diagnosis because the sample is supposed to be collected in a special container so that we can send it for confirmation, but we do not have such containers,” he said.

Mr Baamlong said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) had been briefed on the outbreak in the state, noting that the state expects support in supplying diphtheria antitoxin and specialised sample-collection containers.

“The NCDC is aware, and we are hoping that they will assist us with the antitoxin and the special containers. We have so far activated awareness campaigns to communities through traditional rulers and other stakeholders to curtail the spread,” he said.