Photo courtesy of Anadolu
An outbreak of diphtheria that has killed at least 23 people has prompted authorities in Nigeria’s Plateau State to suspend classes indefinitely across all public and private primary and secondary schools.
The shutdown takes effect Sept. 7 and includes schools that have already resumed academic activities, state Information and Communication Commissioner Joyce Ramnap said Saturday.
Officials imposed the measure after infections were detected in four local government areas: Jos North, Jos South, Bassa and Wase. Parents were advised to keep children at home until authorities lift the suspension.
The school closure comes as Plateau struggles with 143 suspected diphtheria cases. Nine patients were being treated at Jos University Teaching Hospital and Plateau Specialist Hospital, according to state Health Commissioner Nicholas Baamlong.
Health authorities said limited supplies of diphtheria antitoxin were hampering treatment efforts. Delays in bringing infected people to health facilities have also complicated the response.
Laboratory confirmation has presented another challenge. Baamlong said the state lacked enough specialized containers required to properly collect and transport specimens from suspected patients.
Plateau has sought assistance from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, with federal support expected to include additional antitoxin and laboratory collection supplies.
National surveillance data showed Plateau among eight states responsible for 98 percent of Nigeria’s confirmed diphtheria infections. About 68 percent of confirmed patients were unvaccinated, according to the NCDC. Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable bacterial infection that spreads mainly through respiratory droplets and can cause severe complications.