NPHCDA intensifies response as eight states record 836 diphtheria cases, 83 deaths

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) says Nigeria has recorded 836 cases of diphtheria and 83 deaths.

Speaking on Monday at a press conference on the outbreak of the disease, Faisal Shuaib, NPHCDA executive director, said from May 2022 to July 2023, an estimated 2,455 suspected cases have been reported in 26 states.

“As of July 27, 2023, 836 of these cases have been confirmed in 33 LGAs across eight states: Cross River, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Lagos, Osun, Yobe, and FCT,” he said.

“Tragically, 83 deaths have been reported from these confirmed cases, making vaccination against this deadly disease critically important, especially for our children.”

He said despite the efforts by the federal government to provide safe and cost-effective vaccines, a significant number of children remain unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, compromising the country’s goal of achieving population immunity.

“Suboptimal vaccination coverage has been the main factor contributing to these outbreaks, with the most affected age group being those between two to 14 years,” he said.

“The NPHCDA, in collaboration with the federal ministry of health, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the states, and our partners, is mobilizing all necessary resources to respond effectively to this outbreak.

“A comprehensive response plan has been activated to detect cases early, contain the spread, and prevent further transmission through a multi-phased strategy.

”To facilitate our immediate response plan, we are leveraging surveillance data from NCDC and direct information from the states to ensure effective planning and resource deployment.

“The agency is working closely with partners to ensure adequate supplies of tetanus Td for children four to 14 years and pentavalent vaccines for children under four years.

“Currently, we are collaborating with the affected state teams and other stakeholders to conduct intensified mass vaccinations for identified at-risk populations in the affected states, administering pentavalent and tetanus and diphtheria vaccines. Additionally, we are conducting awareness campaigns to educate the public about the disease, its symptoms, and preventive measures.

“The response to the ongoing diphtheria outbreak will be carried out in two phases. Phase 1, the immediate response, will encompass 25 LGAs across four states: Bauchi, Katsina, Yobe, and Kaduna. This phase is scheduled to begin on the 7th of August and will continue until the 11th of August 2023.

“The phase 2 will cover outbreak response in 171 LGAs. Six states (Kano, Katsina, FCT, Yobe, Kaduna, and Bauchi) will have a state-wide outbreak response, while there will be targeted outbreak responses in LGAs across eight states: Jigawa (8 LGAs), Borno (4 LGAs), Osun (4 LGAs), Lagos (3 LGAs), Zamfara (3 LGAs), Gombe (3 LGAs), Plateau (1 LGA), and Nasarawa (1 LGA).”