FG To Re-introduce Facemask To Control Spread Of Diphtheria

According to Shuaib, “Diphtheria is an airborne disease. Like COVID-19, we can reduce air contact with the bacteria by adopting non-pharmaceutical interventions such as the use of facemasks, handwashing and physical distancing from affected persons.

“Accordingly, I would like to call on governors of affected states to institute face covering requirements such as facemasks in public gatherings. By doing so, we can add another intervention to slow the progress of the outbreak.”

However, he cautioned the stigmatisation against people sick with the disease.

Shuaib said six states of the federation are bearing the brunt of the outbreak, accounting for a staggering 97 percent of all reported cases.

The states affected include Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Borno, Kaduna, and Bauchi, while  Kano alone carries the weight of over 84 percent of the cases, making it the epicentre of this outbreak, said Shuaib

He said young persons aged one to 14 years are more prone to infection with over 73 percent  record of the cases .

“Alarmingly, only about 18 percent of those affected had received any vaccinations,” said Shuaib.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), in a Monday report, said there had been 13,204 reported suspected cases out of which 8,406 were confirmed cases from 114 local government areas in 19 states including the FCT.

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The director-general of NCDC, Dr Adetifa Ifedayo also gave breakdown of affected states: Kano – 7,188 (86%), Yobe – 775, Katsina – 232, Borno – 118, Jigawa -23, Bauchi -20, Kaduna – 17, Lagos – 8, FCT – 6, Gombe – 5, Osun – 3, Sokoto – 3, Niger – 2, Cross River – 1, Enugu – 1, Imo – 1, Nasarawa – 1, Zamfara – 1, Kebbi -1.