Diphtheria Outbreak Kills 23 in Jos North as Health Officials Warn of Rapid Spread

At least 23 people have died within three days in a suspected diphtheria outbreak in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, according to local health authorities. Another 117 people are believed to have contracted the infection.

The figures, confirmed by Jos North Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer Baks Bulus and acknowledged by Plateau State Commissioner for Health Nicholas Ba’amlong, have prompted urgent calls for stronger public health measures. Bulus said he was deeply concerned by how quickly the disease was spreading through affected communities.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It mainly affects the nose and throat and can sometimes affect the skin. The infection can spread through close contact, including the sharing of utensils and towels.

Bulus urged parents to ensure that their children receive all recommended doses of the diphtheria vaccine. Fully vaccinated children are more likely to suffer milder symptoms, while unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children face a higher risk of severe illness or death. The outbreak followed the reported deaths of two children from the same Jos family, aged 12 and 17.

Health workers have been sent to affected communities for surveillance and public awareness efforts. Residents were told to maintain strict personal hygiene, avoid crowded places and seek prompt care at government health facilities instead of self-medicating or visiting chemists. A University of Jos professor said the institution’s research centre had produced a vaccine, although he incorrectly described diphtheria as viral. The professor also said Jos University Teaching Hospital’s microbiology department could diagnose the disease and urged local health workers to coordinate with tertiary hospitals.

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I am deeply concerned over the speed at which the disease is spreading across affected communities.