The Kaduna government says it recorded 68 suspected cases and eight deaths from diphtheria.

Diphtheria is a severe bacterial infection that usually affects the nose and throat mucous membranes.

Hamza Ibrahim-Ikara, the director of public health at the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency, disclosed this on Tuesday in an interview in Kaduna.

Mr Ibrahim-Ikara said the suspected cases were from four local government areas: Makarfi, Kubau, Jema’a (Kafanchan) and Kaduna North.

He added that five fatalities were from Jema’a and three from Makarfi.

“We still have one suspected case in Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital now,” revealing that 28 samples were taken to the laboratory. “For now, they are all suspected cases, no confirmation yet until the results are out.”

According to him, contact tracing and active search are also ongoing to curb transmission.

He also said the Rapid Response Team was carrying out media and door-to-door sensitisation campaigns in communities.

Mr Ibrahim-Ikara urged residents to report suspected cases to the nearest health facilities across Kaduna. He said the state government prioritised routine immunisation to ensure all children were fully vaccinated against the disease. 

(NAN)