Plateau State Reports Diphtheria Cases and Vaccination Efforts

Plateau State has reported 469 suspected cases of diphtheria, resulting in 31 deaths. Dr Nicholas Ba’amlong, the Commissioner for Health, announced these figures during a news conference in Jos.

The state government has vaccinated 160,000 children against the disease and intensified measures to contain its spread. Symptoms of diphtheria began appearing in children at the start of 2026, with the situation escalating into a public health concern by August.

Currently, 17 patients are receiving treatment at Jos University Teaching Hospital and Plateau Specialist Hospital, where isolation centers for suspected cases have been established. Ten Local Government Areas have been affected, with Jos North recording the highest number of cases.

The government has distributed medications to support treatment and has alerted the National Primary Health Care Development Agency for additional vaccines. Ba’amlong urged parents to ensure their children complete routine immunizations, noting that some affected children had incomplete vaccinations.