NCDC Reports 1,191 Diphtheria Deaths Across Nigeria
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported that diphtheria has resulted in the deaths of at least 1,191 individuals across the country from May 2023 to the present.
This alarming statistic highlights the severe impact of the infection on public health, prompting urgent calls for increased vaccination efforts and heightened awareness about the disease.
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Dr. Muzzammil Gadanya, the Incident Manager at the National Diphtheria Emergency Operations Centre, disclosed these figures during the National Intra-Action Review Meeting for the diphtheria outbreak held in Kaduna on Wednesday.
According to Dr Gadanya, “the country has recorded over 38,000 suspected cases of diphtheria, with 23,000 confirmed cases.”
He emphasized that the primary aim of the review meeting was to evaluate Nigeria’s current response mechanisms and strengthen coordination efforts to prevent the further spread of the disease.
Notably, he reported a significant reduction in diphtheria cases nationwide.
