A strange respiratory tract infection disease broke out in Kafanchan, Jema’a local government of Kaduna state, killing 10 children aged between three and 13 years, just as Kaduna state government had alerted residents over diphtheria outbreak in the state.
The disease outbreak was confirmed by the Chief Medical Director of Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital, Dr. Isaac Nathaniel.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kaduna state, Muhammad Lawal Shehu, said in a statement that “the Kaduna state Ministry of Health on Thursday confirmed cases of the diphtheria disease in some communities in Kafanchan, Jema’a local government area. This confirmation comes after several reports were made about residents in Takau Ward, Kafanchan A and Kafanchan B wards, exhibiting symptoms listed as difficulty in breathing, high fever, cough, general body weakness, sore throat, and neck swelling.
“Upon learning about the unfortunate loss of lives in the affected communities, Governor Uba Sani immediately directed the Ministry of Health to send an emergency team to investigate these cases. A preliminary report from the Ministry revealed that the outbreak of diphtheria in Kafanchan had its first recorded case in the beginning of July, 2023.
“Governor Sani, while commending the health officials for their prompt response to the health emergency, urged them to continue to carry out their tasks diligently to ensure that the disease is contained and subsequently eradicated. Actions taken by the Ministry so far include the movement of affected cases to adequately equipped hospitals for proper management, active case searches, contact tracing and intensive community sensitisation in all affected communities and surrounding areas.
“In line with these efforts, residents of Kaduna state are advised to take steps to prevent the spread of the disease and protect our communities. Residents should ensure that they: wash their hands frequently with soap and water, avoid close contact with people who are sick, cover their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing, stay home from work or school if they are sick, stay active and walk everyday to boost immunity and report any suspected cases of diphtheria in their surrounding communities.”
The chairman of Jema’a local government, Comrade Yunana Markus Barde, also urged citizens to take proactively measures whenever they discovered children from 0-13 years were confronted with the following symptoms: Difficulty in breathing; blockage of airways in the throat; excessive pains on the throat, and runny nose.
He said such signs should be noted in the communities to arrest the disease outbreak from escalating and becoming uncontrollable.
