Latest official figures of deaths from the outbreak of diphtheria disease in Kaduna have reportedly risen to 13.
A breakdown shows 10 people have reportedly died from the disease in Kafanchan, Jema’a local government area of Kaduna State, while 3 children died in Makarfi Local Government Area, while seven others were hospitalised.
Markafi Local Council Health Secretary, Aliyu Alhassan, while confirming the outbreak, said the suspected cases occurred at Tashar Na-Kawu community, in Gubuchi Ward of the area.
He added that those suspected with the disease have been taken to hospital and isolated for medical observation, adding that contact-tracing is going on to prevent further spread of the disease.
Already, Kaduna State government has alerted citizens on the outbreak and directed the Ministry of Health to send an emergency team to investigate cases and take immediate action.
Meanwhile, the Chief Epidemiologist, of Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Jeremiah Daikwo, has decried that some communities in the State were rejecting vaccine against anthrax which broke out in some States.
Diptheria is a bacterial disease that affects domestic and wild animals and can infect human beings, especially children who may have had contact with infected animals.
