No fewer than 50 people have reportedly died of diphtheria in the Rano Local Council Area of Kano State, while several others are hospitalised.

Alarmed at the development, the Kano House of Assembly has directed its committee on health to engage with the Ministry of Health to implement the state’s Health Protection Law and provide emergency relief to the affected communities.

This followed a motion at plenary yesterday by the lawmaker representing Rano Constituency, Ibrahim Muhammad, calling on Governor Abba Yusuf and the commissioner for health to take immediate action.

Mohammed said the outbreak was particularly severe in Ridin and SabuwarQaura communities, where a majority of the victims lived.

He added that although emergency medication has been provided and health workers have been deployed, the governor and the commissioner for health should provide further assistance to the affected communities.

Supporting the motion, the member representing Kiru Constituency, Usman Tasiu, said the outbreak had spread to communities in Kiru, including KwarinDangora, Dangora town and Yelwa.

He called for an emergency committee to coordinate efforts to contain the outbreak in Rano, Tudun Wada, Kibiya, Bunkure, Bebeji and Kiru councils.

Among others, the lawmaker representing DawakinTofa constituency, Saleh Ahmad, also urged the government to intensify vaccination and other preventive measures, warning that diphtheria is highly contagious and could spread rapidly to neighbouring communities.