The Katsina State Government has raised fresh concerns over the diphtheria outbreak in the state, with the case fatality rate rising to about 5.6 per cent amid concerns that patients are arriving at treatment centres too late.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Health Care Agency, Dr Shaima’u Abba, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with Channels Television in Katsina on Wednesday.
According to Abba, despite intensified government interventions, many patients continue to report to health facilities only after developing severe complications, making treatment more difficult and increasing the risk of death.
She said 32 patients are currently receiving treatment across the state’s four isolation centres, while the outbreak has spread to 30 of Katsina’s 34 Local Government Areas (LGAs), up from 29 previously affected.
Abba stressed that vaccination remains the safest, most effective and cost-efficient means of preventing diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
She urged parents and caregivers to ensure that children complete their routine immunisation schedules and to seek immediate medical attention for anyone exhibiting symptoms including fever, persistent cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, and swelling of the neck.
Government Intensifies Response
Abba said the state government had stepped up surveillance, contact tracing, community sensitisation, case management and the distribution of medicines to affected communities as part of efforts to contain the outbreak.
She disclosed that three additional isolation centres had been established across the state’s three senatorial districts to improve access to treatment.
Preventive medication is also being administered to people who have had close contact with confirmed cases, she added.
According to the health official, more than 150,000 people have already been vaccinated through a reactive vaccination campaign conducted in 15 wards across five of the most affected LGAs.
She said Katsina had also received additional supplies of diphtheria vaccines from the Federal Ministry of Health, with another vaccination campaign scheduled to cover 167 wards across the 30 affected LGAs.
Abba further disclosed that the state government had procured essential medicines and medical consumables to support treatment efforts.
She added that community engagement campaigns had been intensified to educate residents on how to recognise diphtheria symptoms and the importance of seeking prompt medical care.
The health authorities are urging residents to report suspected cases early and take advantage of available vaccination services as the state works to contain the spread of the disease.
