Diphtheria kills one among four cases in Jigawa
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
Four cases of diphtheria were recorded this month at the Federal Medical Centre in Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State, leaving one person dead and three patients recovered. The hospital has strengthened monitoring, isolation and follow-up of exposed healthcare workers, its clinical services head said, according to Punch.
One patient has died and three others have recovered after four cases of diphtheria were recorded in October at the Federal Medical Centre in Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State, Nigeria. Dr Yunus Mohammed Eze, the hospital’s deputy director of clinical services, gave the figures to journalists on Friday, Punch reports.
The four patients were admitted to the isolation unit to receive supportive care. The facility has strengthened monitoring and is following the healthcare workers who treated them to quickly identify any symptoms. Dr Eze also stressed the importance of isolation and contact tracing to limit the spread in the hospital and nearby communities.
The doctor urged parents to have their children vaccinated and to seek medical care quickly if symptoms appear. He also recommended avoiding crowded places and ensuring good ventilation in homes. The hospital has additionally strengthened its isolation unit and activated emergency measures in preparation for a possible Ebola outbreak, in line with federal government guidelines.
