A suspected outbreak of Diphtheria has been reported in the Efu Lungoyi community, Masaba A Ward, of Bida Local Government Area of Niger State.
Killing an 8-year-old boy.
Due to the early report, the government is said to have activated a rapid response team to bring the situation under control.
The Commissioner for Health, Murtala Bagana, who received the distress report in the early hours of Saturday, January 3, on the suspected outbreak, also said several other children presented symptoms consistent with the suspected disease.
The Commissioner immediately convened an emergency meeting with the Relevant Stakeholders; Director of Primary Health Care (PHC), Bida Local Government, Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO), Local Immunization Officer (LIO), and World Health Organization (WHO) as well as Field Epidemiologists were promptly summoned and mobilized to the affected community for rapid assessment and immediate public health intervention.
It was gathered that the suspected cases were assessed by the medical team and immediately evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) for confirmation of diagnosis and appropriate medical care.
Addressing parents and community members, the Health Commissioner emphasised the critical importance of routine immunisation, noting that failure to fully immunise children from birth significantly increases their vulnerability to preventable diseases such as diphtheria.
He further sensitised the community on the provisions of the Child Rights Act, underscoring the legal and moral responsibility of parents and guardians to safeguard the health and well-being of their children.
Bagana further reassured the public that all affected children have been properly evaluated and are already receiving treatment, while active surveillance and contact tracing have commenced in the community.
The Commissioner also disclosed plans for the immediate commencement of targeted vaccination and intensified routine immunisation, enhanced surveillance and reporting, and promoting community engagement in collaboration with the WHO and other health partners, to prevent further spread in the affected and surrounding communities and safeguard public health.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
