Twenty five people have died due to outbreak of diphtheria in Kano state, Nigeria.
The head, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa announced the outbreak on Friday, explaining that the total number of confirmed cases and deaths is not yet known.
He said that the agency has initiated an emergency response to the outbreak and is monitoring the situation in Lagos, Kano, Osun and Yobe states.
Kano state commissioner for health, Dr. Aminu Tsanyawa, said the state has recorded more than 70 suspected cases along with 25 deaths related to the bacterial infection.
Authorities were first alerted about an outbreak among children in a Kano state hospital in late December, according to Dr Abdullahi Kauran-Mata, the state’s chief epidemiologist.
“Immediately we got the information, we quickly mobilized our team through the ministry of health, and the investigation started,” Kauran-Mata said.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that causes breathing difficulties, heart failure and paralysis. The infection is prevalent among people living in a crowded environment. It can be prevented through vaccination.
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