Diphtheria: Death toll hits 31 as cases rise to 469 in Plateau

The death toll from the diphtheria outbreak in Plateau State has risen to 31, with 469 suspected cases recorded across 10 Local Government Areas of the state.

Worried by the development, the Plateau State Government has activated the Incident Management System, IMS, to strengthen coordination of the response, while Dr. Maren Job Damala has been appointed Incident Manager to lead efforts to contain the outbreak.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Ba’amlong, disclosed this on Friday during a press briefing on the outbreak in Jos.

Ba’amlong said, “Although the state recorded sporadic suspected cases earlier in the year, the situation became a significant public health concern from August.

“Of the 469 suspected cases recorded so far, three have been laboratory-confirmed, while 31 deaths have unfortunately been recorded.”