Diphtheria Outbreak Forces School Closures in Plateau State

Plateau State has closed public and private primary and secondary schools following a diphtheria outbreak that has affected Jos North, Jos South, Bassa, and Wase. As of September 7, health authorities reported 148 suspected cases and 25 fatalities.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control's latest assessment indicated that eight states, including Plateau, accounted for 98% of confirmed cases, with approximately 68% of these cases involving unvaccinated individuals. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) is at the center of addressing the immunization gaps, as its mandate includes monitoring immunization and controlling preventable diseases.

The agency's National Emergency Routine Immunisation Coordination Centre was established to identify and address routine immunization gaps. The article stresses that the issue is not the existence of programs but their effectiveness, urging immediate action to map and vaccinate zero-dose and incompletely vaccinated children in collaboration with NPHCDA, NCDC, and neighboring states.