Plateau State Battles Diphtheria: 23 Fatalities, 143 Suspected Cases Emerge

Plateau State is currently grappling with a diphtheria epidemic, which has tragically claimed 23 lives and led to 143 suspected cases of infection within the past fortnight. The alarming figures were revealed by Nicholas Baamlong, the State Commissioner for Health, during a press briefing with journalists in Jos on Tuesday, September 1.

Commissioner Baamlong affirmed that both the state government and his ministry have significantly ramped up efforts to curb the transmission of the highly infectious disease. These measures include the immediate isolation of identified patients, who are currently receiving medical attention at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and the Plateau Specialist Hospital.

Patients affected by the outbreak are being treated in dedicated isolation facilities. Concurrently, the government has launched extensive awareness campaigns across various communities, engaging traditional rulers and other key stakeholders to educate residents and prevent further spread of the illness.

Baamlong further elucidated that diphtheria is a highly communicable bacterial infection capable of spreading rapidly from person to person through respiratory droplets and close physical contact. He highlighted a significant hurdle the state faces in confirming suspected cases: the lack of specialized containers essential for collecting and safely transporting samples to diagnostic laboratories.

"So far, we have 143 suspected cases; we have had 23 deaths and nine currently on admission at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH, and the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos," Baamlong stated. He elaborated that the primary challenges confronting the ministry in the wake of the outbreak include patients presenting late for treatment and difficulties in sourcing antitoxin, given diphtheria's rapid spread through contact, coughing, sneezing, and close association.

Emphasizing the diagnostic difficulties, the Commissioner added, "We are having challenges with the diagnosis because the sample is supposed to be collected in a special container so that we can send it for confirmation, but we do not have such containers."

Despite these obstacles, Baamlong reassured the public that the state government is actively intensifying its sensitisation initiatives at the community level. They are collaborating with traditional leaders and other community figures to inform residents about the disease and effective prevention strategies.

"We have so far activated awareness campaigns in communities through traditional rulers and other stakeholders to curtail the spread," Baamlong concluded.