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• Adeleke orders reactivation of emergency response centre as 1 dies
From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
The Ministry of Health has urged Nigerians to make conscious efforts to avoid contracting diphtheria.
The ministry’s Health Promotion Department, yesterday, issued a health advisory, asking Nigerians to be cautious and protect themselves.
The department stated that the disease, a life-threatening infection caused by bacteria, is easily transmitted from person to person through coughing, sneezing and contact with open sore/blister/wound on the skin.
The ministry advisory, therefore, cautioned that everyone is at risk of getting infected with diphtheria, especially children under five years and adults above 60 years.
“Also, children who have not completed three doses of the Pentavalent vaccination, people living in crowded areas, people that practice poor personal hygiene and people living in areas with poor environmental hygiene and sanitary condition are also vulnerable.
“Additionally, people with weak immune system, people that travel to infected areas, people living in areas with poor access to health facility, people caring or having close contact with infected persons with diphtheria and healthcare workers in endemic areas are also at risk.”
Meanwhile, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has ordered immediate activation of the State Emergency Response Centre to curb further spread of diphtheria detected in some parts of the state.
This followed the death of one a six-year-old patient who allegedly developed the symptom on the June 25 and died of the infection on July 7 in at Osogbo from the highly contagious bacterial disease which attacks the respiratory system, hinders breathing and swallowing, and fatal heart and nerve damage.
A statement, yesterday, by the spokesperson to the Governor, Olawale Rasheed, said contact tracing and immediate treatment of infected victims identified in the recent outbreak of the infection has been launched in the state.
“We are in touch with the National Centre for Disease Control for the exchange of information and technical support. I want to assure our people that proactive steps are being taken to nip in the bud any widespread escalation of the outbreak.
“Our people must be vigilant and observe precautions that the Ministry of Health will soon be issuing. We must never forget to immunize our children and wards. Your government is on top of this medical development,” the statement said.
