The Zamfara State Ministry of Health has recorded 44 deaths from an outbreak of diphtheria in parts of the state.
The State Director of Public Health, Dr Yusuf Haske, disclosed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Gusau on Monday.
Haske said the ministry had so far recorded 367 clinically suspected cases, with more than 320 patients successfully treated and discharged.
He explained that laboratory tests on samples collected from suspected patients confirmed the presence of the organism that causes diphtheria.
According to him, the samples were sent to the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja, where the diagnosis was further confirmed.
Following the confirmation, Haske said the Ministry of Health, on the directive of Governor Dauda Lawal, declared the outbreak and activated the Incident Management System to coordinate the response.
He said the response involved the activation of state and local government rapid response teams, as well as case management activities across the state’s 14 local government areas.
Haske added that general hospitals across the state had established isolation centres for treating diphtheria patients, while Gusau Local Government Area, which recorded the highest number of cases, had about four treatment centres.
The director said 320 patients had been treated and discharged, with oral medication provided for those who required continued treatment at home.
He, however, attributed the continued spread of the disease partly to active community transmission.
Haske said children aged between six and 10 years were among those most affected by the outbreak.
He said the development prompted the Ministry of Health to advise the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology on measures to reduce transmission.
The advice, according to him, led to the decision to extend school resumption by two weeks to enable health authorities to intensify case management, surveillance, community engagement, health education and other preventive measures.
Haske expressed optimism that the situation would improve, noting that although the number of cases “is still increasing, the number of deaths has reduced, and many patients are responding positively to treatment.”
He urged residents to remain vigilant and seek medical attention immediately if they noticed signs and symptoms associated with diphtheria.
He added that disease surveillance and notification officers across the 14 local government areas were working to identify cases and ensure a timely response.
Haske also disclosed that his department was visiting local government areas to sensitise residents and provide support for the ongoing response.
He called on residents to cooperate with health officials and use the contact channels provided across the state to report suspected cases and access assistance.
Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has extended the resumption of public and private schools in the state by two weeks following the outbreak.
The Commissioner for Education, Abdulmalik Gajam, announced the extension on Monday in Gusau.
Gajam said the decision followed the latest health advisory from the Ministry of Health and was aimed at protecting pupils, students, teachers and the wider school community.
According to him, the extension would enable health and education authorities to strengthen disease surveillance, contact tracing, vaccination verification, public sensitisation and other preventive measures before schools reopen.
He directed all school proprietors, heads of schools and management boards to comply with the directive.
The commissioner also advised schools to use the period to clean and decontaminate their premises and ensure the availability of adequate handwashing facilities.
Gajam announced Monday, September 28, as the tentative new resumption date, subject to further advice from the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders.
(NAN)