JALINGO — Taraba State has recorded its first confirmed case of diphtheria, with one person reported dead in Bali Local Government Area, prompting the state health authorities to activate enhanced disease surveillance and contact-tracing measures.
The State Epidemiologist, Dr Udi Aketemo, confirmed the development in a telephone interview with newsmen, saying the patient died from the acute bacterial infection before comprehensive clinical management could be administered.
Diphtheria is a serious vaccine-preventable bacterial infection that primarily affects the respiratory system and can spread from person to person through respiratory droplets and close contact.
Aketemo said the emergence of the confirmed case initially presented a diagnostic challenge because of the absence of dedicated local diagnostic infrastructure for the disease.
He, however, explained that the situation had improved following the deployment of specialised laboratory kits and equipment to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, restoring the state’s capacity to conduct relevant testing locally.
According to him, the upgrade in diagnostic capacity has significantly improved testing turnaround time and enabled health authorities to respond more quickly to suspected cases.
Following the identification of the index case in Bali, health authorities identified 14 suspected cases and subjected them to laboratory analysis.
Aketemo disclosed that all 14 suspected cases tested negative for diphtheria, a development he said was encouraging but did not warrant a relaxation of surveillance measures.
He said the Ministry of Health had activated its full surveillance architecture to prevent the infection from spreading within communities and to ensure that any additional suspected cases were identified and investigated promptly.
“Following the index case in Bali, 14 suspected cases were identified and subjected to laboratory analysis, and all 14 returned negative.
“Notwithstanding the negative results, the Ministry of Health has activated its full surveillance architecture to contain the infection and prevent community transmission, with active contact tracing centred on Bali and adjoining border settlements,” he said.
The epidemiologist said the contact-tracing exercise was particularly focused on people who may have had close contact with the deceased patient, as well as communities around the affected area.
He stressed the importance of continued vigilance by residents and health workers, particularly in reporting individuals who develop symptoms associated with diphtheria.
The development has also prompted renewed attention to the importance of vaccination and early medical intervention, given that diphtheria is preventable through routine immunisation.
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Also speaking on the development, the Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr Buma G. Bordiya, assured residents that the state government was taking all necessary measures to prevent the spread of the infection to other parts of the state.
Bordiya urged residents not to panic but to remain vigilant and cooperate with health officials involved in surveillance, contact tracing and other containment activities.
The Commissioner reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting residents and strengthening disease surveillance and response mechanisms across the state.
Health authorities are expected to continue monitoring the situation in Bali and neighbouring communities while investigating any new suspected cases.
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The confirmation of the case comes as health officials intensify efforts to ensure that the infection does not progress from an isolated case into wider community transmission
