Disease outbreak in Imo leads to death of many school children

• A diphtheria outbreak successful Mbutu Community, Aboh Mbaise LGA has resulted successful aggregate kid fatalities, prompting the closure of schools to curb the spread
• Local wellness authorities, WHO, and authorities officials are moving to incorporate the outbreak, mounting up an isolation centre astatine Mbutu Health Centre
• Parents are urged to vaccinate their children immediately, arsenic wellness experts accent the value of regular immunisation against diphtheria

A diphtheria outbreak successful Mbutu Community, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo State has led to the deaths of respective children, prompting the contiguous closure of schools successful the area, officials confirmed.

The nonstop fig of fatalities remains unconfirmed, according to a study by Daily Trust connected May 28, 2025. The Chairman of Aboh Mbaise LGA, Iheukwumere Alaribe, verified the outbreak successful a connection released connected May 26.

Disease Outbreak successful Imo Leads to Death of Many School Children. Photo credit: Legit Nigeria
Source: Original

Deaths reported amid Diphtheria outbreak successful Mbutu

Diphtheria, a highly infectious illness caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae, chiefly affects the chemoreceptor and pharynx but can besides interaction the skin. It spreads done respiratory droplets from coughing oregon sneezing, oregon nonstop interaction with infected individuals oregon contaminated objects.

It spreads done respiratory droplets from coughing oregon sneezing, oregon via nonstop interaction with infected individuals oregon contaminated objects.

In effect to the outbreak, the section authorities has taken swift enactment to curb further spread.

Schools successful Mbutu person been temporarily closed, and parents person been advised to support their children indoors.

“Diphtheria claimed the lives of the children little than a week aft its outbreak.“The president stated that the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Department of Disease Prevention and Control successful the Imo State Ministry of Health, and wellness workers from Aboh Mbaise LGA were moving tirelessly to analyse and incorporate the outbreak.“An isolation centre has been established astatine Mbutu Health Centre, with wellness workers deployed to quarantine children who whitethorn person been exposed to the illness and to supply attraction for affected families,” said Godspower Dike, the spokesperson for the chairman.

The president urged parents to instrumentality contiguous enactment successful vaccinating their children to forestall further infections.

“In airy of this outbreak, parents who person not yet vaccinated their children are powerfully urged to bash truthful without delay.“Vaccinations are important for preventing the dispersed of diseases and protecting our children’s health,” helium stated.

Public practice amid Diphtheria cases

Dike besides called for nationalist calm and practice with wellness authorities, assuring that regular updates would beryllium provided arsenic much accusation becomes available.

“We promote the nationalist to stay calm and cooperate with the applicable authorities arsenic we enactment to power this outbreak. Updates volition beryllium provided arsenic much accusation becomes available,” helium added.

Diphtheria cases and deaths crossed Nigeria

In aboriginal May, diphtheria claimed the lives of 2 children successful Tukur-Tukur Community, Zaria, Kaduna State.

According to PUNCH Online, Nigeria recorded 25,812 confirmed cases of diphtheria from 42,642 suspected cases crossed 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and 350 LGAs, with 184 LGAs successful 26 states reporting confirmed cases.

As of March 9, 2025, diphtheria had resulted successful 1,319 deaths, according to the latest Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) report, covering week 19 of 2022 to week 10 of 2025.

Health authorities person reiterated the value of regular immunisation to support children from vaccine-preventable diseases similar diphtheria.

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Source: Legit.ng