Tag: Diptheria

Diptheria Outbreak: Nigeria in race against time to save children

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abujah Racheal, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Nigeria has found itself in a race against time as it battles a severe diphtheria outbreak in multiple fronts across some states, the latest public health challenge to face the country. Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Borno, Kaduna, and Bauchi bear the largest brunt of this outbreak, together they account for a staggering 97 per cent of all reported cases. Among these, Kano is the epicentre of the outbreak as it carries over 84 per cent of the burden. This relentless disease is hitting…

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Diphtheria: UNICEF Nigeria raises alarm over unprecedented outbreak, advocates urgent vaccination

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF Nigeria has raised an alarm about the urgent need for widespread vaccination against the unprecedented outbreak of diphtheria. The outbreak has so far resulted in over 11,500 suspected cases, more than 7,000 confirmed cases, and claimed the lives of 453 people, mostly children. In a statement issued Wednesday in Kaduna, UNICEF said most cases are children aged between 4 to 15 years who have not received even a single dose of the vital vaccine, laying bare the urgency of the vaccination situation in Nigeria.…

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Diptheria: 11,000 suspected cases raises need for urgent vaccination in Nigeria

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare says it is aware of the mounting concern regarding the recent Diphtheria outbreak across several states with over 11,000 suspected case. The ministry gave the assurance that urgent vaccination efforts were underway. The Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, gave the assurance in an interview on Monday in Abuja. He said that since the confirmation of the re-emergence of diphtheria, the Federal Government had continued to respond to the outbreaks across different states. According to…

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Diphtheria: WHO says Nigeria facing second wave of outbreak

Aminu Imam

The World Health Organisation, (WHO), says Nigeria is currently facing a second wave of the diphtheria outbreak. Diphtheria is a bacterial infection caused by the corynebacterium species, which affects the nose, throat, and sometimes, skin of an individual. Some symptoms of diphtheria include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes, neck swelling, and difficulty in breathing. In a statement issued on Thursday, the health body said there has been an increase in Nigeria’s affected population with a rise in the number of confirmed cases and related deaths. The report…

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Kaduna: Govt. confirms diphtheria disease outbreak in Kafanchan

Aminu Imam

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…

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