NCDC CALLS FOR VIGILANCE AS LAGOS, 3 OTHER STATES RECORD CASES OF DIPHTHERIA.
Written by AIGBOKHAEBHO OKHUELEIGBE on January 20, 2023
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention says it is responding to reports of diphtheria cases in Lagos and Kano States and is monitoring the situation in Osun and Yobe States where cases are now being picked up.
A statement this Friday by the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, explained in addition to clinically suspected cases, there have been laboratory-confirmed cases.
Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection caused by the bacterium called Corynebacterium species that affect the nose, throat and sometimes, skin of an individual.
The disease is preventable through immunization as recommended by the Nigeria childhood immunisation schedule of three doses of pentavalent vaccine (diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine) for children in the 6th-, 10th- and 14th -week of life.
