A suspected diphtheria outbreak has killed four children and left five others infected in Kwarbai, Zaria City, Kaduna State.
A resident, Mallam Bashir Magaji Basharata, said he lost his daughter to the illness, and three of his other children are showing similar symptoms. “She had a swollen neck, couldn’t breathe or speak. We rushed her to ABU Teaching Hospital, but she didn’t make it,” he said.
Basharata added that other infected children have been taken to Kakaki Primary Health Centre in a nearby community.
Dr. Bello Jamoh, Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Board, said Kaduna has been battling diphtheria for 10 months. Though unaware of this specific case, he promised to dispatch a response team immediately.
