Government sets up task force to tackle diphtheria outbreaks in Kano and Katsina

The federal government has set up an emergency task force to improve monitoring, fill immunisation gaps and increase access to treatment after diphtheria outbreaks in Kano and Katsina states.

Ado Bako, an Assistant Director in the Information and Public Relations Department of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, shared this information in a statement on Friday.

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, ordered the formation of the task force to protect children and boost Nigeria’s ability to prevent and deal with disease outbreaks.

"The federal government is committed to protecting Nigerian children from diseases that vaccines can prevent. We will respond quickly and in a coordinated way to control this outbreak," the statement said.

This announcement comes after reports of children dying in Rano Local Government Area of Kano State. On Wednesday, a lawmaker from the Kano State House of Assembly raised concerns over a serious diphtheria outbreak in the area and called for immediate action.

Diphtheria is a dangerous and contagious bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The infection spreads mainly through droplets in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and also through close contact with someone who is infected.

Common signs of diphtheria include fever, a sore throat, and a thick grey or white membrane in the throat that can block breathing. Severe cases can lead to serious issues like heart and nerve damage.

Vaccination with diphtheria toxoid vaccines, including the pentavalent vaccine for infants, is the best way to protect against this disease.

Since the outbreak started in 2022, Nigeria has recorded over 40,000 suspected diphtheria cases and more than 1,000 deaths.

The new task force will manage the federal and state response. It includes the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), state governments involved, and international health partners.

The committee will be co-chaired by the Director General of the NCDC and the Director of Public Health. Members will include representatives from the NPHCDA, health commissioners from Katsina, Kano, Zamfara, and Sokoto states, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme in Katsina.

The chief epidemiologist from the ministry will serve as the secretary of the committee.

The task force will focus on controlling the outbreak by looking into cases, improving disease monitoring, and increasing community awareness. It will also find and immunise children who have not received their vaccines, especially in areas where low immunity may be spreading the disease.

As part of the immediate response, the NPHCDA has sent 500,000 vaccine doses to Kano and Katsina states. Besides vaccination, the task force is working with the Katsina State government to set up hospital treatment centers in Katsina, Daura, and Funtua senatorial districts.

These centers will help provide early treatment and bring care closer to communities that are affected. Emergency support is also being organized for the referral services at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Katsina, which is the main treatment center for the state and nearby areas.

This support includes supplies of diphtheria antitoxin (DAT), intravenous antibiotics, more clinical staff, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

The task force will give the minister weekly updates on the response, including any new challenges and what else is needed, to ensure that any issues are quickly dealt with.