Abah Felicity 
KANO, Nigeria – The Kano State Government has inaugurated a Special Committee on Diphtheria Outbreak Response to coordinate efforts aimed at containing the disease and preventing further infections across the state.
The committee was inaugurated by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, who described the initiative as a critical step towards strengthening disease surveillance, vaccination and emergency response.
Yusuf said diphtheria remains a serious public health concern in Kano, where the disease has persisted since December 2022, necessitating sustained government intervention.
He described diphtheria as a highly contagious bacterial infection capable of spreading rapidly within communities if not detected and treated early.
The commissioner urged parents and caregivers to ensure that eligible children receive all recommended vaccinations and advised anyone experiencing symptoms consistent with diphtheria to seek prompt medical attention.
According to him, committee members were selected based on their expertise and experience in disease prevention and outbreak management.
He said the committee would oversee early detection and reporting of suspected cases, strengthen surveillance systems, improve case documentation, support vaccination activities in low-coverage communities and facilitate referral of patients for treatment.
The committee comprises representatives of the Kano State Government, local government councils, emirate councils and key health institutions to ensure coordinated interventions across affected communities.
Director-General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control, Professor Muhammad Adamu Abbas, will serve as chairman of the committee.
Other members include senior officials from the Ministry of Health, the State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Hospitals Management Board and disease control agencies.
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Mirian Gom 
