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From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
An outbreak of diphtheria in several communities in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State has claimed the lives of 15 persons.
The victims were among 117 persons suspected to have contracted the disease.
Among the victims were two children of the same family aged between 12 and 17, raising serious health concerns among residents of the communities.
Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer, DSNO, for Jos North, Mr. Baks Bulus, who disclosed this on Tuesday in an interactive session with newsmen in Jos, said the deaths were recorded within three days of the outbreak
He said that more cases could emerge if urgent preventive measures were not taken.
Bulus said, “So far, according to the data we have gathered from the communities, 117 people are suspected to have contracted the disease. Out of this number, we have already recorded 15 deaths, based on the records available to us as of now.”
The surveillance officer, who explained the mode of transmission, said diphtheria is a bacterial infection that can spread rapidly from person to person, particularly among close contacts.
According to him, people sharing personal items such as utensils and towels with infected persons are at risk of contracting the disease.
“Diphtheria can be transmitted from person to person. It keeps spreading when people come in close contact with an infected patient, and it can be disastrous.
“For children who have been vaccinated, the effects may be milder and may not lead to death. But for a child who has not been fully vaccinated or has not completed the required doses, it can be deadly,” he said.
The DSNO added that diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease, noting that children who receive the recommended doses of the vaccine are adequately protected.
He urged residents, particularly those in affected communities, to maintain good personal hygiene and promptly report suspected symptoms at government health facilities.
“People should maintain good personal hygiene and avoid overcrowded places. We advise residents to visit the nearest health facility because early detection is key to saving lives.
“Most times, people resort to chemists and self-medication, which we do not advise. The best approach is to visit primary healthcare centres where we have the necessary structures and personnel in place,” Bulus added.
He said health personnel from the local government had been deployed to affected communities to intensify surveillance and sensitise residents on measures to prevent further spread of the disease.
Efforts to get the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Maren Job, were unsuccessful as his phone rang repeatedly unanswered.
