The death toll from a diphtheria outbreak in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, northern Nigeria, has risen to 23, health authorities said on Tuesday. Officials have recorded 143 suspected cases, with the outbreak concentrated in Rikkos, a Muslim-dominated community.
Initial reports had put the toll at 15 deaths and 117 suspected cases. The deaths were recorded within three days of the outbreak. The current toll is approximately 16% of suspected cases.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the respiratory system. A family in Jos lost two children aged between 12 and 17 to the infection.
Seven people are on admission at the Jos University Teaching Hospital and two are at the Plateau State Specialist Hospital. Nine patients were currently receiving treatment across the two hospitals, where patients are being managed in isolation.
Baks Bulus, the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer for Jos North, disclosed information about the outbreak at the Jos North Local Government Council Secretariat. He described the situation as alarming and warned that more cases could be recorded.
Health authorities identified a shortage of diphtheria antitoxin and late presentation at health facilities as major obstacles. The state is also struggling to confirm suspected cases because specialised containers for collecting and transporting samples to laboratories are unavailable.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has been notified, authorities said. Personnel have been deployed to affected areas for awareness campaigns. The state government is working through traditional rulers and other stakeholders, while authorities are engaging the paramount chief in Rikkos.
The outbreak comes as Niger State reported 17 diphtheria deaths from 124 cases in three local government areas over the last seven months. The available information does not establish the origin of the Plateau outbreak, its transmission patterns, or whether cases have spread beyond Jos North.
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