Director of Public Health, Edo State Ministry of Health, Dr Stephenson Ojeifo said the state recorded two deaths from Diphtheria disease between January and August.
Ojeifo disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Benin yesterday.
He said the two deaths were from the six confirmed cases of the disease.
“We have recorded 20 suspected cases of the disease from January to August. Out of these, six were confirmed positive and two mortalities recorded.
“Diphtheria is a vaccine preventable disease and we are urging mothers and caregivers to ensure that their children are vaccinated.
“The vaccine is free it protects our children against childhood preventable diseases, which can cause death,” he said.
Ojeifo attributed the deaths to the late presentation of the affected children to the hospital for treatment.
“It is a sad occurrence for the state and there is the need for timely visits to the hospital when children, including adults, instead of resorting to self-medication,” he said.
He also disclosed that the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, had provided the state with Diphtheria antitoxins, which were used on patients who came early for treatment.
He said the antitoxins were not sold in the market, but the state was able to secure some from the NCDC, adding that the ministry still has some in stock.
He said the state does not have any suspected active case of the disease presently.
According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, Diphtheria is a contagious disease caused by a bacterium that affects the upper respiratory tract and less often the skin.
Its common symptoms include fever, sore throat and swelling of the neck glands. (NAN)
