Diphtheria Cases Rise To 100 In Kano  

Identified cases of Diph- theria in Kano State has risen from 25 to 100 in less than two weeks.
Three persons in 13 local government areas of the state have died from the disease outbreak.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, disclosed this during a Press Conference on Diphtheria and Lassa fever outbreaks in the state.
Tsanyawa said the epidemiology unit of the ministry was notified by Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital of the suspected cases of Diphtheria, prompting the ministry to mobilize its team to commence investigation.
“As at 20th of January 2023, we have recorded 100 suspected cases from 13 Local Government Areas, which are Ungogo, Nassarawa, Bichi, Dala, Dawakin Tofa, Dawakin Kudu, Fagge, Gwale, Kano Municipal, Kumbotso, Rano, and Gwarzo respectively.
“Of the 100 suspected cases, eight were confirmed, while awaiting more results. We have lost three among eight confirmed and 22 among other suspected cases,” he added.
Tsanyawa further said 27 patients were currently receiving treatment, while 41 have been managed and discharged successfully.
The commissioner also said on the 10th of January, the Public Health Emergency Operation Center received a report of suspected case of Lassa fever from Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital.
He said a team was deployed to investigate and samples were taken for laboratory tests before they returned positive three days later.
“10+ samples were taken from the high-risk contacts of the index case, three become positive making a total of four cases currently managed at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital isolation center,” Dr. Tsanyawa said.
The commissioner also said the Kano State Government activated the Kwanar Dawaki Isolation Center for isolating the Lassa fever cases, adding that staff of ‘Yargaya have been trained and transferred to the isolation center with drugs and consumables.
He further  revealed that the ministry, through the primary health care management board, was planning to conduct a routine immunization intensification campaign to reach out to all eligible children in the affected local government areas.