Plateau Diphtheria death toll hits 27 as 303 cases recorded

The Plateau State Government has disclosed that the decease toll from the diphtheria outbreak successful the authorities has risen to 27, portion 303 cases person been recorded truthful far.

The state’s Chief Epidemiologist, Dr Maren Damulak, who disclosed the figures portion briefing newsmen successful Jos connected Thursday, said the erstwhile decease toll was 23 but had risen to 27 pursuing the deaths of 2 parents connected Wednesday.

He added that the fig of suspected cases had besides risen sharply from astir 149 to 303, with Jos North Local Government Area, peculiarly the Rikkos community, identified arsenic the astir affected area.

“As of today, the cases person accrued from 149 to 303. The decease toll has besides accrued from 23 to 27. Jos North has the highest fig of cases. 99% of the cases are successful Jos North,” Damulak said.

He emphasised that astir of those affected were radical who had not received the diphtheria vaccine, peculiarly children whose parents did not instrumentality vantage of the government’s escaped vaccination window.

He, however, assured that the authorities authorities was doing everything imaginable to incorporate the outbreak, including the impermanent closure of each superior and secondary schools pursuing the detection of suspected cases successful Jos North, Jos South, Bassa and Wase Local Government Areas.

The measure, Damulak said, was aimed astatine reducing transmission among students and schoolhouse sta...