• say good hygiene, vaccination prevent infection
From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
Public health emergency officials in Borno have warned people against complacent attitude toward the prevention of contagious diseases including diphtheria and measles.
Borno State Immunization Officer (SIO), Maina Modu while presenting an overview of disease outbreaks in the state at a media dialogue in Maiduguri yesterday said diphtheria, measle and other communicable disease spread easily due to peoples’ indifferent attitude.
“A lot of people attribute some traditional belief to these disease and therefore did not present their children for immunization,” he disclosed.
He said 653 suspected cases of diphtheria were reported in Borno spread across 15 local governennt area. He said 41 of these cases have been confirmed to be diphtheria after laboratory investigation.
“This is why we have quickly conducted vaccination in four high-risk local governments of Mobba, Jere, MMC and Biu. We have vaccinated a total of 70,000 children,” he revealed.
UNICEF Social and Behaviour Change Specialist, Elizabeth Onitolo, in her presentation titled Social and Behaviour Change Key Considerations, said the global body conducted an assessment of peoples attitude toward diphtheria outbreak in Yobe and Borno State.
She said the research indicated high level of ignorance on the disease and complacency about the seriousness of the outbreak especially in Yobe State. She appealed to the media to collaborate with all partners to step up sensitization of people in the two states.
Diphtheria and measles are some of the world’s most contagious diseases, usually spread by contact with infected nasal or throat secretions including coughing or sneezing, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) in a recent report.
It said measles can also be contracted through breathing the air that was breathed by someone with the disease.
“The virus remains active and contagious in the air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours,” WHO said.
Diphtheria is also a serious bacteria infection caused by a specific bacteria that affect the nose, throat or sometimes skin of an individual. Contacts with contaminated clothing and objects, droplets from infected person through coughing and sneezing can spread the disease.
It is however preventable by hand washing, maintaining hygiene and immunization for children and adult.