Ten children have been killed by diphtheria in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, according to the state’s ministry of health.

The disease outbreak informed the government’s decision to put the entire state on alert and urged residents to take precautionary measures to prevent a large-scale outbreak.

A July 20 statement signed by Muhammad Lawal Shehu, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Uba Sani, stated that a preliminary finding into the cause of the children’s deaths by the health ministry revealed “that the outbreak of diphtheria in Kafanchan had its first recorded case in the beginning of July, 2023”.

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The statement reads in part, “The Kaduna State Ministry of Health on Thursday 20th July 2023 confirmed cases of the diphtheria disease in some communities in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area. This confirmation comes after several reports were made about residents in Takau Ward, Kafanchan A and Kafanchan B wards, exhibiting symptoms listed as difficulty in breathing, high fever, cough, general body weakness, sore throat, and neck swelling.

“Upon learning about the unfortunate loss of lives in the affected communities, His Excellency, Senator Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna State, immediately directed the Kaduna State Ministry of Health to send an emergency team to investigate these cases. A preliminary report from the Ministry revealed that the outbreak of diphtheria in Kafanchan had its first recorded case in the beginning of July, 2023.

“Governor Sani, while commending the health officials for their prompt response to the health emergency, urged them to continue to carry out their tasks diligently to ensure that the disease is contained and subsequently eradicated.

“Actions taken by the Ministry so far include the movement of affected cases to adequately equipped hospitals for proper management, active case searches, contact tracing and intensive community sensitization in all affected communities and surrounding areas.

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“In line with these efforts, residents of Kaduna State are advised to take steps to prevent the spread of the disease and protect our communities.”

Yunana Barde, the council boss, had told newsmen on Thursday that the disease broke out in Kafanchan on Wednesday night, leading to the hospitalisation of the 10 children in a temporary isolation facility within the community’s general hospital.

Dr. Isaac Nathaniel, the medical director of the general hospital, said the children aged between three and 13.