No fewer than four children have reportedly been killed in a fresh outbreak of diphtheria disease in villages in the Mingibir Local Government Area of Kano State.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the local government’s Information Officer, Tasiu Yahaya Dadin-Duniya, and made available to a Kano-based radio station, Arewa Radio, 28 others have been hospitalized.
The statement read, “Four children have died of diphtheria, and 28 children have contracted the disease in Kwarkiya, Kuru, Kunya, and Minjibir Villages in Minjibir Local Government Area of the state.
“The Interim Management Officer of the local government, Muhammad Yakubu Kunya, has called on the authorities and stakeholders to immediately reach out to the Minjibir local government to protect the health of the communities.”.
According to the statement, the district head of the local government has requested traditional rulers and Islamic experts in the area to enlighten the people and pray for relief.
When contacted, Ibrahim Abdullahi, the State Ministry of Health’s Public Relations Officer, stated that the report had been passed to the State Director of Public Health, who has yet to confirm or deny the outbreak.