Kano throat ailment kills 25, FG begins probe

Tamarauemi Ebimini

An outbreak of diphtheria infection in Kano State since last week Friday has, as of Thursday, claimed not less than 25 lives, The PUNCH reports.

It was learnt that the child killer disease, first recorded in the state in late 2022 is being treated as an outbreak at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano.

According to medical experts, diphtheria infection is a serious infection of the nose and throat, which is easily preventable by vaccines.

The signs and symptoms of diphtheria, according to the experts, may include, sore throat, hoarseness, swollen glands (enlarged lymph nodes) in the neck, difficulty breathing or rapid breathing, nasal discharge, fever and tiredness.

Newsmen gathered that the disease, believed to be contagious, was first discovered at Ungogo Local Government Area of the state.

From the record of the state Ministry of Health, not less than 58 suspected cases of the disease were documented at the outbreak, while six were placed on admission just as 25 patients died as of January 13, 2023.

Following the enormity of the outbreak, according to our source, the National Centre for Disease Control, last week deployed medical personnel to the state.

When contacted, a communications officer at the NCDC, Oluwadamilare Olowoshile, told The PUNCH that the agency is aware of the outbreak.

He said, “The NCDC is aware of it and we have commenced investigations already, we are working on an advisory on Diphtheria to sensitise the public on it and when it is ready, we will share it with the media.”