JOS NORTH STEPS UP SURVEILLANCE AS PLATEAU INTENSIFIES DIPHTHERIA RESPONSE

Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State has recorded 117 suspected diphtheria cases and 15 deaths as of September 1. The council has deployed motorcycles to strengthen surveillance, contact tracing, sample collection and follow-up visits in hard-to-reach areas.

Council Chairman John Christopher said the intervention would support faster responses, while the council has also launched radio sensitisation campaigns on prevention and routine vaccination. Suspected cases have also been reported in Jos South, Bassa and Wase, prompting the state government to temporarily close public and private schools.

Health Director Martha Kummiap urged residents to promptly report symptoms such as sore throat and fever and cooperate with health teams. Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable bacterial disease spread through respiratory droplets and can cause severe complications if untreated. Christopher stressed that community cooperation was essential to containing the outbreak.

Source:
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/health/health-news/907845-diphtheria-jos-north-steps-up-surveillance-as-plateau-intensifies-response.html

Written by: Toluwalowo Adekunle Erastus
Edited by: Afolalu Eniola Anthonia