Diphtheria: Taraba Officials Differ Over Cases, Death

Confusion has surrounded the reported outbreak of diphtheria in Taraba State, as two senior health officials have given conflicting accounts of the number of confirmed cases and fatalities recorded in the state.

While the State Epidemiologist and Coordinator of Health Security, Dr Udi Aketemo, said the state had recorded 15 confirmed cases with one death, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Buma Bordiya, said there was only one confirmed case and that the patient was responding to treatment.

Dr. Aketemo, who confirmed the development in a telephone interview to newsmen in Jalingo, said the index case was recorded in Bali Local Government Area, where he claimed the patient subsequently died from the acute bacterial infection.

“Yes, we have recorded 15 cases of diphtheria with one dead,” he said.

He, however explained that following the index case, 14 suspected cases were identified and subjected to laboratory analysis, with all the 14 returning negative results.

According to him, the state initially faced challenges in local diagnostic capacity, but testing capability had since been strengthened following the deployment of specialised laboratory kits and equipment to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo.

He said the improved diagnostic capacity had enhanced testing turnaround time and enabled health authorities to respond more rapidly to suspected cases.

Dr. Aketemo, said the Ministry of Health had activated its surveillance architecture, including active contact tracing, particularly in Bali and adjoining border communities, to prevent possible community transmission.

“Notwithstanding the negative results, the Ministry of Health has activated its full surveillance architecture to contain the infection and prevent community transmission, with active contact tracing centred on Bali and adjoining border settlements,” he said.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya, however gave a different account on the incident, saying the state had recorded only one confirmed case and that the patient was alive and stable.

“It’s only one case, I don’t know of other cases, and the patient is in stable condition.

“The patient is not dead, and we have not recorded a fatality case of the disease,” the commissioner said.

He stated that surveillance and preventive measures were being intensified to detect and contain any possible spread of the disease.

The conflicting accounts have left the actual number of confirmed diphtheria cases and fatalities in Taraba unclear, with the two officials yet to provide a reconciled figure.

LEADERAHIP learnt that diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable bacterial infection that can cause serious complications and death, particularly where diagnosis and treatment are delayed.