Bisola David
In less than two weeks, the number of confirmed cases of diphtheria in Kano has increased from 25 to 100.
The state’s commissioner for health, Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa mentioned this at a press conference regarding the state’s epidemics of Lassa fever and diphtheria.
Three persons in 13 local government areas of the state have died.
He said the epidemiology unit of the ministry was notified by Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital of the suspected cases of Diphtheria, prompting the ministry to mobilize its team to commence investigation.
“As of January 20, 2023, 100 suspected cases had been reported from 13 local government areas, including Ungogo, Nassarawa, Bichi, Dala, Dawakin Tofa, Dawakin Kudu, Fagge, Gwale, Kano Municipal, Kumbotso, Rano, and Gwarzo, respectively. 8 of the 100 suspected cases were found to be true while awaiting additional information. We lost 3 out of the 8 verified instances and 22 out of the other suspected cases”, he continued.
Tsanyawa added that while 41 patients have been successfully handled and discharged, 27 patients are continuously undergoing therapy.
The Public Health Emergency Operation Center received a report of a possible case of Lassa fever from Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital on January 10, according to the commissioner.
He claimed that after samples were collected for laboratory testing and a team was sent to investigate, the results came back positive three days later.
Dr. Tsanyawa stated, “10 samples from the high-risk contacts of the index case were obtained; three of these samples became positive for a total of 4 cases currently being handled at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital isolation center.
The commissioner added that employees from ‘Yargaya have been trained and transported to the isolation center with drugs and consumables. The Kano State Government launched the Kwanar Dawaki Isolation Center, he said.
He emphasized that the ministry intends to carry out a routine immunization intensification campaign to reach out to all eligible children in the concerned local government regions through the primary health care management board.
