Plateau State faces diphtheria outbreak with 23 deaths

A diphtheria outbreak in Plateau State, Nigeria, has resulted in 23 deaths and 143 suspected cases over a two-week period. Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Baamlong, confirmed that the state government has intensified containment efforts, including the quarantine and isolation of patients at Jos University Teaching Hospital and Plateau Specialist Hospital.

Health officials face several critical challenges in managing the outbreak. There is a reported shortage of specialized containers required to collect and transport samples for laboratory confirmation, which is hindering accurate diagnosis. Additionally, authorities are struggling to obtain antitoxin and noted that many patients present at medical facilities too late for effective treatment.

To curb transmission, the government has launched community awareness campaigns involving traditional rulers and local stakeholders to educate the public on how the bacterial disease spreads through respiratory droplets and close contact.