Diphtheria: FG urges affected states to reintroduce use of face masks

The Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has urged states affected with diphtheria to reintroduce the use of face masks in public places to reduce the spread of Diphtheria.

The Co-Chair of the task force on diphtheria and Executive Director/CEO of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, made the call during the recent press briefing by the diphtheria emergency task force in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

“Diphtheria is an airborne disease like COVID-19, we can reduce air contact with the bacteria by adopting non pharmaceutical intervention such as the use of facemasks, hand washing and physical distancing from affected persons.

“However, this should be done in a way that does not stigmatize nor discriminate against sick people,” he said.

Dr. Shuaib who underscored the gravity of the ongoing diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria, emphasized on the importance of vaccination in the battle against this preventable disease.

“The outbreak, which has hit several states, particularly Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Borno, Kaduna, and Bauchi, has impacted vulnerable populations, with children aged 1 to 14 years being the hardest hit, as of October 3, 2023, a total of 8,406 confirmed cases have been reported from 19 states and 114 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across the country, Kano, 7,188 (86 per cent); Yobe, 775; Katsina, 232; Borno, 118; Jigawa, 23; Bauchi, 20; Kaduna, 17; Lagos, 8; FCT, 6; Gombe, 5; Osun, 3; Sokoto, 3; Niger, 2; Cross River, 1; Enugu, 1; Imo, 1; Nasarawa, 1; Zamfara, 1; and Kebbi, 1.”

Dr. Shuaib commended the cohesive response of the Federal Government, Subnational levels, and partners, highlighting President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to providing quality healthcare for all Nigerians.

“Vaccination emerged as the key strategy in curbing the outbreak, with two vaccines, Pentavalent and Tetanus-diphtheria (Td), being deployed.

“The vaccination campaign, meticulously planned and executed, has been concentrated in high-burden areas, with Kano at the forefront of these efforts. Multiple rounds of vaccination have been conducted, reaching substantial numbers of children.

“I urged citizens to play their part by getting vaccinated and encouraging others to do the same, as vaccination is a vital component of the nation’s health strategy,” he added.

In his remarks, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, (NCDC) Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa said as of today, the 3rd of October 2023, there have been 13,204 reported suspected cases out of which 8,406 were confirmed cases from 114 Local Government Areas in 19 States including the FCT.

He said, “The recently deployed NRRT is offering on-site surveillance and response support to affected States in areas of active case search in communities and health facilities, however security challenges are limiting accessibility of some teams to some locations in affected LGAs across States.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO), Deputy Country Representative, Alexander Chimbaru noted that it is very critical to bring traditional, religious and community leaders to support vaccination of children.

Chimbaru explained that Diphtheria is a highly infectious disease and a cause for concern, saying the vaccines being used now are safe and effective.

“Nigeria has the pentavalent vaccine. We applaud the government for providing the vaccines free of charge. We will support in surveillance and coordination of activities in terms of communication and community engagement. We need to have the communities coming on board to tackle the disease,” he said.

The Country Director of the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (USCDC) Mary Boyd said, “I commend the government for setting up the task force for diphtheria, in Nigeria, we are seeing quite a number of deaths, up to 14 years.

“We are not just addressing the specific outbreak but also building systems that will help the country to better response to future outbreak.

“I am hopeful that we will come out of this soon and that neighboring countries can take a cue from Nigeria in response to the outbreak. We need to promote vaccination; families must prioritize bringing their babies to health centers for vaccination,” she said.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious vaccine-preventable disease caused mainly by Corynebacterium diphtheria but also by Corynebacterium ulcerans. It spreads between people mainly by direct contact or through the air via respiratory droplets. The disease can affect all age groups; however, unimmunized children are most at risk.

Symptoms often come on gradually, beginning with a sore throat and fever. In severe cases, the bacteria produce a poison (toxin) that causes a thick grey or white patch at the back of the throat. This can block the airways, making it hard to breathe or swallow, and also creates a barking cough. The neck may swell in part due to enlarged lymph nodes.

The task force pleads with the public to rely on verified information from official government channels to combat the spread of misinformation during this critical time.