Panic As Diphtheria Outbreak Cla!ms 10 Lives In Niger State
Panic As Diphtheria Outbreak Claims 10 Lives In Niger State
The outbreak, which occurred in Agaie and Bida Local Government Areas, has continued to spread, with children being the most affected.
Diphtheria has claimed the lives of at least 10 children in Niger State, sparking fears among residents and renewed calls for urgent government intervention.
The outbreak, which occurred in Agaie and Bida Local Government Areas, has continued to spread, with children being the most affected.
Reports indicated that the victims were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Bida, but died due to a shortage of drugs that were not readily available to treat them.
Quoting sources, Vanguard reports that the affected councils disclosed that the number of deaths could be higher than reported, as fatalities had also been recorded in communities outside the hospitals.
One of the sources in Bida said: “The figure is high because children are dying almost on a daily basis since the outbreak occured in these two local government areas.”
“This is a matter of life and death and we plead with the state government to as a matter of urgency provide drugs.”
Health workers in Agaie and Bida were said to have rushed other infected children to general hospitals in the two local government areas in an attempt to curb further spread of the disease.
When contacted, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tertiary Health Care, Dr. Mohammed Gana, confirmed the outbreak but declined to give official casualty figures.
“Yes, there is an outbreak of diphtheria in these local government areas and we are doing everything possible to put the spread under control.”
“The high death toll was as a result of some parents refusing to submit their children for vaccination in the affected areas but we are grateful to various partners for coming to the assistance of the state with the provision of medicaments,” Gana said.
He added that the situation had been brought under control.
Diphtheria is a highly contagious, infectious disease caused by the bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
It causes breathing and swallowing problems.
