More cases of Diphtheria emerge in Kano as 40 hospitalised

The Kano State government has confirmed 10 persons dead following the outbreak of diphtheria in the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, confirmed the news to journalists late Saturday in Kano, adding that the victims died within the past one week.

Diphtheria is a serious infection of the nose and throat that’s easily preventable by a vaccine. Usually, a sheet of thick, grey matter covers the back of the throat, making breathing hard.

In his statement, the commissioner added that 40 others were receiving treatments in hospitals across the state.

He said: “What we officially have is that we recorded 10 deaths from diphtheria outbreak in the last one week, from Monday till date.

“And as of this morning, 40 patients were in bed.

“We have activated diphtheria treatment centres in each of the local government areas across the state.

“We call on residents, who come across patients with the symptoms, to visit the centres instead of coming to facilities in the metropolis to curtail the spread of the disease.”