Plateau Reports 469 Suspected Diphtheria Cases, 31 Deaths as Response Expands
Plateau State authorities say 469 suspected diphtheria cases and 31 deaths have been recorded as health officials expand vaccination, surveillance and treatment across affected communities.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Nicholas Ba’amlong said the cases had been reported across 10 local government areas.
Only three of the 469 suspected cases were reported as laboratory-confirmed.
The distinction is important: the statewide figure represents suspected cases under surveillance and should not be presented as 469 confirmed infections.
Jos North carries largest reported burden
Jos North accounts for 370 of the state’s suspected cases.
Other affected local government areas include Wase, Jos South, Barkin Ladi, Mangu, Pankshin, Kanam, Mikang, Shendam and Bassa.
Plateau authorities say an Incident Management System has been activated to coordinate the response, with surveillance teams carrying out active case searches and contact tracing.
Treatment and isolation capacity has also been established at Jos University Teaching Hospital and Plateau Specialist Hospital.
The state has reported 31 deaths during the outbreak response, but authorities have not presented all 31 as laboratory-confirmed diphtheria fatalities.
Reported suspected cases rise
The latest cumulative figures represent an increase from September 10, when state officials reported 303 suspected cases and 27 deaths.
By September 24, the cumulative total had reached 469 suspected cases and 31 reported deaths.
That increase does not by itself establish that the current rate of transmission is accelerating.
State authorities say more than 160,000 children have received diphtheria-tetanus vaccines, while more than 30,000 have received pentavalent vaccination.
Public sensitisation and community surveillance have also been intensified.
Vaccine supply comes under pressure
Health officials have reported pressure on vaccine supplies as the response expands.
The state health commissioner was reported as saying shortages had constrained wider vaccination efforts, with Jos North receiving much of the initial intervention because it carried the largest reported burden.
Plateau has requested additional vaccine supplies from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.
The supply challenge adds an accountability test to the outbreak response: whether sufficient vaccines, testing capacity and treatment resources can reach all affected areas quickly enough.
Authorities will also need to establish how rapidly suspected cases are being tested and whether immunisation gaps are contributing to continued transmission.
For families in affected communities, the immediate priorities remain vaccination, early detection and prompt treatment.
For health authorities, the next measure of the response will be whether wider vaccination and surveillance can reduce new suspected cases and prevent further deaths.
