The Katsina State Government has raised fresh concerns over the worsening diphtheria outbreak, revealing that the disease’s case fatality rate has risen to about 5.6 per cent, with health authorities blaming the increase on the late presentation of patients at treatment centres.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Health Care Agency, Dr. Shaima’u Abba, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with Channels Television in Katsina on Wednesday.
According to her, despite intensified government interventions, many patients are still arriving at health facilities only after developing severe complications, making treatment more difficult and increasing the risk of death.
Dr. Abba said 32 patients are currently receiving treatment across the state’s four isolation centres, while the outbreak has now spread to 30 of the 34 Local Government Areas, an increase from the 29 LGAs previously affected.
She stressed that vaccination remains the safest, most effective and cost-efficient protection against diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
The health official urged parents and caregivers to ensure children complete their routine immunisation schedule and seek immediate medical attention for anyone showing symptoms such as fever, persistent cough, sore throat, difficulty in breathing or swallowing, and swelling of the neck.
Highlighting ongoing response efforts, Dr. Abba said the Katsina State Government has strengthened surveillance, contact tracing, community sensitisation, case management and the supply of medicines to affected areas.
Credit: channelstv.com
