No fewer than 25 people have reportedly been confirmed dead as the Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr Aminu Tsanyawa, confirmed the outbreak of the deadly Diphtheria disease.
The commissioner, who confirmed the outbreak, said the state emergency preparedness committee is currently in a meeting to evaluate the casualty figures, reviewing the data and measures to address the situation.
According to Tsanyawa, the state rapid response team has been reactivated and indexed an action plan to check the spread of the deadly disease in the state.
‘’Right now, we have presented a budget for this to the government and it has been approved,’’ the commissioner told an online newspaper.
He said the low routine immunisation attributed to the spread of the disease is due to the hard-to-be-reached areas in the state.
He noted that, however, the state is strengthening its routine immunization.
Tsanyawa said apart from the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital designated as an isolation centre, other isolation centres would be created to check the spread of disease.
“Although we used Yargaya for COVID-19 isolation, we have set the place aside for the isolation of diphtheria infection also.
“We also have three cases of LASSA Fever in the state now with the index case from Taraba.
“The people should not panic but if they notice any unusual fever, should immediately visit the hospital.
“We are already embarking on sensitisation to educate the populace on the disease,” Tsanyawa said.
Symptoms of the killer disease may include sore throat, cough, drooling of saliva, change of voice, neck swelling, abnormal breathing, fever or mouth odour.
