The Kaduna State Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of diphtheria disease in some communities in Kafanchan, Jema’a local government area.
Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the respiratory tract. Its symptoms include sore throat, fever, and a white layer on the throat.
It is transmitted through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing and through direct contact with the respiratory fluid and has a high fatality rate of up to 20 per cent, especially in children under five.
Recall that on Thursday there were reports of an outbreak of a strange disease in parts of Kafanchan, where about 10 children aged between three and 10 years were hospitalised.
Meanwhile, the Chief Press Secretary to the State governor, Uba Sani, Mohammed Shehu, said the governor had directed the Kaduna State Ministry of Health to send an emergency team to investigate the outbreak.
According to the statement, a preliminary report from the Ministry revealed that the disease was first recorded in Kafanchan at the beginning of July.
“In line with these efforts, residents of Kaduna are advised to take steps to prevent the spread of the disease by staying clean and making their environment clean”, Shehu stated.
