By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
An outbreak of diphtheria in several communities in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State has claimed 15 lives out of 117 persons suspected to have contracted the disease.
The Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO) for Jos North, Baks Bulus, disclosed this on Tuesday, 1st September, 2026, during an interactive session with newsmen in Jos, saying the deaths were recorded within three days of the outbreak.
Among the victims were two children from the same family, aged between 12 and 17, a development that has raised serious health concerns among residents of the affected communities.
“So far, according to the data we have gathered from the communities, 117 people are suspected to have contracted the disease. Out of this number, we have already recorded 15 deaths, based on the records available to us as of now,” Bulus said, warning that more cases could emerge without urgent preventive measures.
Explaining the mode of transmission, he said diphtheria is a bacterial infection that spreads rapidly between close contacts, adding that sharing personal items such as utensils and towels with infected persons heightens the risk of contracting the disease.
“Diphtheria can be transmitted from person to person. It keeps spreading when people come in close contact with an infected patient, and it can be disastrous. For children who have been vaccinated, the effects may be milder and may not lead to death. But for a child who has not been fully vaccinated or has not completed the required doses, it can be deadly,” he said.
Bulus noted that diphtheria is vaccine-preventable, stressing that children who receive the recommended doses are adequately protected.
He urged residents, particularly those in affected communities, to maintain good personal hygiene and promptly report suspected symptoms at government health facilities.
“People should maintain good personal hygiene and avoid overcrowded places. We advise residents to visit the nearest health facility because early detection is key to saving lives. Most times, people resort to chemists and self-medication, which we do not advise. The best approach is to visit primary healthcare centres, where we have the necessary structures and personnel in place,” he said.
He disclosed that health personnel from the local government had been deployed to the affected communities to intensify surveillance and sensitise residents on measures to curb further spread.
Efforts to reach the State Epidemiologist, Dr Maren Job, for comment proved unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered.
