A recent diphtheria outbreak in Tukur Tukur settlement, Zaria Local Government Area, Kaduna State, has resulted in the deaths of three children. The outbreak has been linked to vaccine rejection, according to health officials.
The health team, led by Dr. Bello Jamo, Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, confirmed the deaths and attributed the outbreak to non-compliance with diphtheria vaccination during a routine exercise conducted two months ago. The Tukur Tukur settlement had the highest vaccine rejection rate during the routine exercise in June.
Dr. Jamo noted that the outbreak in the 13 wards of Zaria LGA is the first reported since the vaccination campaign. To address the situation, over 1,000 children in the area were vaccinated, with continued vaccination planned for the following week in neighboring settlements.
Abdullahi Sule, the Health Secretary of the council, reported that one victim died at home, while the other two died after being taken to Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria.
Fatima Abdullahi, the ward focal person, pledged that her team would stay in the community for a week to eliminate the disease. Abdul-azeez Suleiman, spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum, commended the swift response and assured that the community would engage in increased sensitization efforts regarding the importance of vaccination.
