The Zamfara State Ministry of Health has recorded 44 deaths from a diphtheria outbreak, with 367 clinically suspected cases reported across the state.
The State Director of Public Health, Dr Yusuf Haske, disclosed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau on Monday.
Haske said health authorities had successfully treated and discharged more than 320 patients, while laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the organism that causes diphtheria.
According to him, samples collected from suspected patients were sent to the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja, where the diagnosis was confirmed.
Following the confirmation, he said the Ministry of Health, acting on the directive of Governor Dauda Lawal, declared the outbreak and activated the Incident Management System to coordinate the state’s response.
The ministry also activated rapid response teams at both state and local government levels and commenced case management across the state’s 14 local government areas.
Haske said general hospitals had established isolation centers for diphtheria patients, while Gusau Local Government Area, which recorded the highest number of cases, had about four treatment centers.
He added that the 320 patients discharged from the treatment centers were given oral medication to continue their recovery at home.
However, Haske attributed the continued spread of the disease in part to active community transmission, noting that children aged between 6 and 10 years were among those most affected.
He said the ministry subsequently advised the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to take measures to reduce transmission in schools.
The health advisory contributed to the decision to extend school resumption by two weeks, allowing health authorities more time to intensify case management, disease surveillance, community engagement, health education and other preventive measures.
Despite the rising number of cases, Haske expressed optimism that the situation was improving.
He said the number of deaths had declined, while many patients were responding positively to treatment.
The director urged residents to remain vigilant and seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms associated with diphtheria.
He said disease surveillance and notification officers across the 14 local government areas were actively identifying suspected cases and ensuring prompt intervention.
Haske added that his department was visiting communities across the state to sensitise residents and support ongoing response efforts.
He urged residents to cooperate with health officials and use the designated contact channels to report suspected cases and access assistance.
Schools to remain closed for two more weeks
Meanwhile, the Zamfara Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has extended the resumption of all public and private schools in the state by two weeks following the outbreak.
The Commissioner for Education, Mr Abdulmalik Gajam, announced the decision in Gusau on Monday.
Gajam said the extension followed a health advisory from the Ministry of Health and was aimed at protecting pupils, students, teachers and other members of the school community.
He said the additional two weeks would allow health and education authorities to strengthen disease surveillance, contact tracing, vaccination verification, public sensitisation and other preventive measures.
The commissioner directed school proprietors, heads of schools and management boards to comply with the directive.
He also urged schools to use the period to clean and decontaminate their premises and provide adequate handwashing facilities.
Gajam announced Monday, September 28, as the tentative new resumption date, stressing that the date could change based on further advice from the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders.
