Taraba records first diphtheria case

A patient has died from confirmed diphtheria in Bali Local Government Council of Taraba State, marking the state’s first recorded case of the vaccine-preventable bacterial disease. The State Epidemiologist, Dr Udi Aketemo, confirmed the development in a telephone interview with DAILY POST on Wednesday in Jalingo, saying the patient died before comprehensive clinical management could be instituted. "The case was recorded in Bali, and health authorities have intensified surveillance to determine whether there are additional infections and prevent further spread", Aketemo said. He explained that Taraba initially faced difficulties in diagnosing suspected diphtheria cases due to inadequate diagnostic facilities. The challenge, he said, had been addressed following the deployment of testing kits and specialised laboratory equipment to the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo. "The new diagnostic capacity would enable health authorities to test and confirm suspected cases more rapidly and facilitate timely intervention," he stated.