The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) has begun investigating the reported de.aths of more than 50 children in Rano Local Government Area over suspected diphtheria infections
The KNCDC Director-General, Professor Muhammad Abbas, disclosed this on Wednesday during a news conference at the centre’s headquarters in Kano.
The investigation followed concerns raised by the Kano State House of Assembly over the reported de.aths.
Abbas said Kano had officially recorded 32 diphtheria cases this year. He said 25 of the cases were recorded in August, six in July and one in May.
He explained that seven of the 32 patients were admitted to the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), the designated centre for treating and isolating diphtheria patients in the state.
According to him, health officials carried out an active search for cases on August 19 after four cases were reported on August 13. The search identified 10 additional cases and two de.aths.
Abbas said the difference between the 32 officially recorded cases and the reported deaths of more than 50 children could be due to late reporting.
He explained that some of the affected children may have been treated at home or by traditional healers instead of being taken to health facilities.
The KNCDC chief said the agency was also conducting verbal autopsies by speaking with relatives of some of the deceased. He said the exercise would help determine the actual causes of the de.aths and establish whether diphtheria was responsible.
He urged parents and caregivers to take children showing symptoms of diphtheria to health facilities as soon as possible, warning that delayed treatment could lead to serious complications or de.ath.
Abbas also disclosed that Kano had recorded more than 38,000 suspected diphtheria cases since the outbreak began in 2022, with more than 31,000 later confirmed.
Follow Us on Facebook – @LadunLiadi; Instagram – @LadunLiadi; Twitter – @LadunLiadi; Youtube – @LadunLiadiTV for updates
