A diphtheria outbreak in Plateau State has claimed 23 lives, with 143 suspected cases recorded over the past two weeks, according to the state government.

The Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Baamlong, disclosed this on Tuesday, September 1, in Jos while speaking with journalists on the government’s response to the outbreak.

Baamlong said the state government had intensified efforts to contain the spread of the highly infectious bacterial disease, including the immediate isolation and treatment of identified patients.

He said affected patients were being treated in isolation at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos.

“So far, we have 143 suspected cases; we have had 23 deaths and nine currently on admission at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH, and the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos,” the commissioner said.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that can spread through respiratory droplets and close contact with an infected person, particularly through coughing and sneezing.

Baamlong identified late presentation of patients and difficulties in obtaining diphtheria antitoxin as major challenges confronting the state’s response to the outbreak.

He also disclosed that the lack of specialised containers for collecting and transporting samples was hampering efforts to confirm suspected cases through laboratory testing.

“We are having challenges with the diagnosis because the sample is supposed to be collected in a special container so that we can send it for confirmation, but we do not have such containers,” he said.

Despite the challenges, the commissioner said the government had stepped up public awareness campaigns across affected communities to curb further transmission.

He said the campaigns were being carried out with the support of traditional rulers and other stakeholders, who were helping to educate residents on the symptoms, dangers and preventive measures against the disease.

“We have so far activated awareness campaigns in communities through traditional rulers and other stakeholders to curtail the spread,” Baamlong stated.

The commissioner urged residents to take preventive measures seriously and seek medical attention promptly when symptoms associated with diphtheria occur.