Adeleke activates emergency response as diphtheria kills one in Osun

• Osun suspected Diphtheria patient died of the infection on July 7th
• Osun orders contact tracing 
• FG warned Nigerians on risk of diphtheria
  

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Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke on Monday ordered the immediate activation of the State Emergency Response Centre to curb the further spread of Diphtheria in the state.

The order was a reaction to the renewed outbreak of Diphtheria infections in some parts of the state, which has resulted in one death.

The suspected Diphtheria patient, aged 6 years, was said to have developed the sign and symptoms on the 25th of June, 2023, and died of the infection on July 7th.

A statement by the spokesperson to the governor, Olawale Rasheed, explained that the governor’s directive was issued after a situation report from the state Ministry of Health on the outbreak which has claimed one life at Osogbo, with other suspected cases under testing.

Quoting the governor, the statement further read, “I have directed that the state emergency response be reactivated. As a matter of urgency, the confirmed case at Osogbo is to be immediately followed up with contact tracing to ascertain the status of those who had been in contact with the victim.

“Additionally, emergency treatment must be made available to the infected. We are in touch with the National Centre for Disease Control for exchange of information and technical support. I want to assure our people that proactive steps are being taken to nip in the bud any widespread escalation of the outbreak.”

“Our people must be vigilant and observe precautions the Ministry of Health will soon be issuing. We must never forget to immunize our children and wards. Your government is on top of this medical development,” the statement added.

The Federal Government has issued a public warning to Nigerians against diphtheria stressing that everyone is at infectious risk of the disease.

The Federal Ministry of Health in a public advisory issued stated that the disease, a life-threatening infection caused by bacteria, is easily transmitted from person to person through coughing, sneezing and contact with open sore/blister/wound on the skin.

Diphtheria is caused by bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae which produces a toxin that causes severe damage to the respiratory system, heart, skin and other organs.