As diphtheria cases rise across Nigeria, the Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services has intensified disease surveillance and emergency preparedness.
Dr Paul Ogwuche, Commissioner for Health and Human Services, told reporters in Makurdi that Benue had not recorded any confirmed diphtheria cases. However, he said the state needed to remain on high alert amid the rising number of cases nationwide.
Ogwuche said frequent movement between Benue and other states, particularly neighbouring Nasarawa State, made it necessary for the government to strengthen efforts to detect and manage any potential outbreak.
He explained that diphtheria is a severe and highly contagious bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which predominantly targets the nose and throat.
According to him, the disease spreads through respiratory droplets produced when an infected individual coughs or sneezes, with transmission risks heightened in overcrowded settings.
The commissioner stated that the ministry has activated its public health emergency and epidemiology units to ensure swift response to any suspected or confirmed cases.
He added that vaccination efforts have been intensified across the state’s 23 local government areas to prevent the introduction and spread of the illness.
Ogwuche stressed the importance of routine immunisation as a key preventive measure, noting that areas with low vaccination coverage faced a higher risk of diphtheria outbreaks.
He urged parents and other caregivers to ensure that children receive all vaccines recommended under the routine immunisation programme.
The commissioner also advised parents to seek immediate medical attention for children who develop symptoms such as fever or difficulty swallowing.
Backstory…
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Diphtheria is a severe bacterial infection that primarily targets the respiratory tract—including the nose and throat—and can occasionally affect the skin.
The disease is chiefly caused by toxin-producing strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, though it may less frequently stem from toxin-producing C. ulcerans or C. pseudotuberculosis.
Clinical manifestations typically include pharyngitis, tonsillitis, or laryngitis, marked by the formation of an adherent pseudomembrane over the pharynx, tonsils, or nasal passages. Systemic complications can also arise, with roughly one in four patients developing cardiac issues such as myocarditis.
