Plateau records 469 suspected diphtheria cases, 31 deaths

Plateau State has recorded 469 suspected cases of diphtheria and 31 deaths since the state began detecting children with symptoms of the disease in early 2026, the state government has said.

The Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Ba’amlong, disclosed this on Thursday in Jos, saying 160,000 children had so far been vaccinated as part of intensified efforts to contain the outbreak.

Mr Ba’amlong said the outbreak became a major public health concern in August as suspected cases increased, prompting the government to intensify vaccination, surveillance and community sensitisation across affected communities.

He said 17 patients were currently receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and Plateau Specialist Hospital, where isolation centres had been established for suspected diphtheria cases.

According to the commissioner, 10 of the state’s 17 local government areas have recorded suspected cases. They are Jos North, Jos South, Wase, Barkin Ladi, Mangu, Kanam, Pankshin, Shendam, Bassa and Mikang.

Jos North has recorded the highest number of suspected cases, Mr Ba’amlong said, adding that health authorities were continuing surveillance and response activities in affected communities.

The government, he said, had supplied medications to JUTH and Plateau Specialist Hospital to support patient treatment and strengthen the clinical management of suspected cases.

Mr Ba’amlong, however, said the number of cases was declining, attributing the development to intensified vaccination, surveillance and public awareness campaigns.

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He said the state had also alerted the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and requested additional diphtheria vaccines to sustain the immunisation campaign in affected communities.

The commissioner urged parents to ensure that their children received all recommended routine vaccinations, noting that some of the children affected by the disease had either not been vaccinated or had not completed their immunisation schedule.

Diphtheria is a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection that can spread through respiratory droplets and close contact, particularly among people who are not adequately vaccinated.