The Kano State government has given an order to contact tracing teams to trace patients affected by the diphtheria outbreak in the state.
The state government also disclosed that more than 100 patients were on admission and over 2,000 others treated and discharged.
The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Abdullahi Kauranmata, who stated this while addressing journalists on update of the outbreak in the state over the weekend, disclosed that the teams were deployed to the nooks and crannies of the state, especially high burden Local Government Areas.
According to him, “diphtheria cases have been reported in 31 out of 44 LGAs in the state, saying that the state government has set up two treatment centers for the treatment of patients who come down with the infection.
“The resurgence of diphtheria may be linked to the aftermath of covid-19 pandemic which caused lockdown and disruption of routine immunization, leaving many children unimmunised and on the other hand.”
He also disclosed that the other factor that can cause this is the attitude of some parents or caregivers who are hesitant to take their wards for immunization.
“Recently, NCDC has released a list or update given the number of states affected with the total number of confirmed cases including the mortality among the children. The report has put Kano among those states with the highest number,” he said
Speaking further, the Epidemiologist stated that “Currently, we have more than 100 cases on admission. We have treated and discharged over 2,000, adding that “Diphtheria have been reported in 31 out of the 44 LGAs in the state.
“Already, the Kano State has established a well equipped diphtheria treatment center at the Murtala Muhammad specialist hospital. And it has been provided with well trained human resources with the support of MSF and other partners. And cases have been managed and discharged continuously
“Through the epidemiology unit, we have now established contact tracing teams across the high burden LGAs. The teams are actively searching for the children with symptoms of diphtheria. With this, we have put searchlights in all nooks and crannies of the state looking for these patients.
“Another effort, since January, this year, the Kano State government through the ministry of health established a technical working group on diphtheria. It comprises a team of experts from different technical backgrounds with the support of development partners.
“The committee is saddled with the responsibility of controlling this outbreak in the state. Every day, series of meetings conducted, incident management have since been activated.
“And looking at the rising number of cases because of the improved awareness, the government has strategised and opened a new treatment centre within the Infectious Disease Hospital, popularly called IDH just to ensure that every suspected case is thoroughly screened, if found positive he or she is given the required treatment,” he concluded.
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