Mirian Gom 
PLATEAU, Nigeria – The Plateau diphtheria outbreak has claimed 23 lives in the past two weeks, with 143 suspected cases recorded across the state as health authorities intensify efforts to contain the spread of the highly contagious disease.
Plateau State Commissioner for Health Nicholas Baamlong disclosed the latest figures during a telephone interview on Tuesday, saying nine patients are currently receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and the Plateau Specialist Hospital.
“So far we have 143 suspected cases, we have had 23 deaths and nine currently on admission at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH and the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos,” Baamlong said.
The commissioner said affected patients had been placed in isolation while the state government expanded public awareness campaigns through traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to curb further transmission.
He identified the shortage of diphtheria antitoxin as one of the biggest challenges confronting the state’s response to the outbreak.
“The biggest challenge is getting antitoxin, and most of them are presenting late,” Baamlong said.
The state is also facing difficulties in confirming suspected infections because of a shortage of specialised sample collection containers required to transport specimens to laboratories.
“We are having challenges with the diagnosis because the sample is supposed to be collected in a special container so that we can send it for confirmation, but we do not have such containers,” he said.
According to Baamlong, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has been notified and is expected to provide additional support.
“The NCDC is aware, and we are hoping that they will assist us with the antitoxin and the special containers,” he added.
“We have so far activated awareness campaigns in communities through traditional rulers and other stakeholders to curtail the spread,” he said.
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