Plateau Records 469 Diphtheria Cases, 31 Deaths

The Plateau State Government has confirmed a significant diphtheria outbreak within its borders, recording 469 suspected cases and 31 fatalities since the beginning of the year. In response to the escalating public health challenge, the state has launched an aggressive, multi-pronged intervention strategy, successfully vaccinating over 160,000 children and establishing dedicated isolation centres to curb the spread of the highly contagious bacterial infection.

Dr. Nicholas Ba’amlong, the Plateau State Commissioner for Health, disclosed the grim statistics during a press conference in Jos on Thursday. He provided a comprehensive update on the state’s epidemiological situation, noting that while the first cases with symptoms suggestive of diphtheria were recorded early in 2026, the situation escalated into a major public health concern by August, necessitating an emergency, coordinated response.

The outbreak has cast a wide net across the state, affecting 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs). The affected regions include Jos North, Jos South, Wase, Barkin Ladi, Mangu, Kanam, Pankshin, Shendam, Bassa, and Mikang. According to the health commissioner, Jos North Local Government Area has recorded the highest concentration of cases, prompting targeted surveillance and rapid response deployments in the urban center and its surrounding communities.

To manage the clinical burden of the outbreak, the state government has activated isolation centres at two major healthcare facilities: the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and the Plateau Specialist Hospital. Dr. Ba’amlong confirmed that 17 patients are currently receiving intensive treatment at these facilities. Essential medications, including diphtheria antitoxin and appropriate antibiotics, have been distributed to these hospitals to support the clinical management of suspected cases and improve survival rates.

A cornerstone of the state’s response has been a massive, proactive immunization campaign. Recognizing that diphtheria is entirely preventable through routine childhood vaccination, health workers have been deployed across affected communities to administer the pentavalent vaccine. To date, 160,000 children have been successfully vaccinated, creating a crucial buffer of herd immunity in vulnerable populations. 

Furthermore, the state government has formally alerted the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), requesting an emergency allocation of additional diphtheria vaccines to sustain the momentum of the ongoing immunization activities and ensure no child is left unprotected.

Despite the sobering casualty figures, Dr. Ba’amlong offered a note of cautious optimism, revealing that the prevalence of the disease is currently on a downward trajectory. He attributed this positive trend to the synergistic effects of intensified vaccination drives, rigorous contact tracing, and widespread community sensitization efforts. 

“The prevalence of the disease is on the decline, indicating that our intensified vaccination, surveillance, and community sensitization efforts are beginning to produce positive results across Plateau communities,” the Commissioner stated. 

However, he issued a strong caveat, identifying incomplete or absent routine immunization as the primary catalyst for the outbreak. He urged parents and guardians to take immediate responsibility for their children’s health, emphasizing that the disease disproportionately targets the unvaccinated. 

“We strongly urge parents to ensure that their children receive and complete their routine immunization schedules,” Dr. Ba’amlong advised. “Our investigations show that many of the affected children had either not been vaccinated at all or had incomplete vaccination histories, leaving them completely vulnerable to this preventable disease.”

As Plateau State continues its robust response, health authorities are maintaining heightened surveillance to detect and isolate any new cases promptly. The current crisis serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of sustaining routine immunization programs, even in the absence of active outbreaks, to safeguard the health of Nigeria’s most vulnerable demographic: its children.