The Plateau State Government has ordered the temporary closure of all public and private primary and secondary schools in the state from Monday, September 7, following suspected cases of diphtheria.
The directive, announced by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, on Saturday, is part of measures to contain the suspected outbreak and protect pupils, students, and teaching and non-teaching staff.
The government said suspected cases have been reported in Jos North, Wase, Jos South and Bassa Local Government Areas.
According to a statement issued by Ms Ramnap, schools that have already resumed academic activities are required to shut from Monday and remain closed until further notice.
The government directed school proprietors, administrators, teachers, parents and guardians to comply with the order and ensure that pupils and students remain at home during the period.
It said the temporary closure would allow health authorities to assess the situation and implement measures to contain the spread of the disease.
The government added that further information on the resumption of academic activities would be communicated to the public.
The school closure comes amid concerns over the rising number of deaths linked to the suspected outbreak in the state.
PREMIUM TIMES reported on September 3 that the Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Baamlong, said 143 suspected diphtheria cases had been recorded in the state, with 23 deaths and nine patients receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital and Plateau Specialist Hospital.
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However, a resident of Jos North, Usman Sheidu, told The Guardian that four additional deaths had been recorded in the local government area, potentially bringing the reported death toll to 27.
Mr Baamlong said patients identified with the disease were being quarantined at the two hospitals to prevent further transmission.
“So far, we have 143 suspected cases; we have had 23 deaths and nine are currently on admission at JUTH and the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos,” he said.
He identified late presentation of patients and difficulties in obtaining diphtheria antitoxin as major challenges to the state’s response.
Diphtheria is a potentially fatal bacterial infection that can spread through respiratory droplets and close contact. Vaccination remains the primary means of preventing the disease.
The Plateau government’s decision to close schools comes as health authorities continue to encourage vaccination and the early reporting of suspected cases.
In Kano State, the Kano State Centre for Disease Control recently urged traditional rulers to intensify community sensitization and encourage residents to accept vaccination against diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
The centre’s Director-General, Muhammad Adamu-Abbas, also urged traditional medicine practitioners and barbers to refrain from treating suspected diphtheria cases and instead refer patients promptly to health facilities.
The Plateau government urged all stakeholders to cooperate with the temporary school closure and other measures being implemented to protect residents while the situation is monitored.
Premium Times
