An upsurge in the diphtheria scourge in parts of Plateau State, which has claimed no fewer than 23 lives as at last week, is yet to abate as a family yesterday rushed three children reportedly infected to the Primary Healthcare Clinic in Jos.

The mother of the children, Hajiya Zaninab, said she noticed that they were having a kind of difficulty in breathing and swallowing. Following that, she rushed them to the nearest health care centre for medication, adding that “they have improved drastically now.”

However, health workers said her claims were exaggerated.

Nevertheless, the Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, told The Guardian that the ministry has now recorded an increase of 301 cases of diphtheria while the confirmed death toll has risen from 23 to 25.

Baamlong said that health workers were intensifying their activities to ensure that residents of the state were immunised, adding that 14 people were currently on admission, with samples still being expected from the National Primary Health Centre.

The state government over the weekend ordered a temporary shutdown of all private and public primary and secondary schools pending the situation improving.

Meanwhile, ahead of schools reopening next week for the new academic term, the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BSPHCDA) has assured residents that the government has put the state’s diphtheria situation under control.

The assurance came amid concerns among parents and other Nigerians over whether schools in states with recorded cases of the vaccine-preventable bacterial infection should reopen.

However, the Executive Chairman of BSPHCDA, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, said Bauchi was currently recording only sporadic cases of diphtheria.

Diphtheria can spread from person to person, particularly in crowded settings, making schools a key area of concern for parents and health authorities.