Diphtheria outbreak: Osun govt directs reactivation of emergency response, contact tracing

Osun State Government has directed health officers in the State to begin immediate activation of the State Emergency Response Center to curb any further spread of diphtheria disease.

This directive is coming following the renewed outbreak of diphtheria infection in some parts of Osun State.

The State government also ordered an immediate contact tracing process as a means of providing adequate treatment for the infected residents.

The State Epidemiologist, Dr Omolola Adeagbo, who spoke on behalf of the Commissioner for Health, Barr Jola Akintola disclosed this during an interview with journalists in Osogbo on Tuesday

Adeagbo said the State Ministry of Health has activated the Incident Management System, IMS, for diphtheria just as the Incident Manager, who is also the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Isiaka Adekunle has been directed to put in place different sensitisation programmes on different media platforms.

According to the State Epidemiologist, “It is disheartening that there is another case of diphtheria in Ilesa East Local Government Area of the State. While the infected person is presently under treatment, the contact tracing has also been done in Ilesa.

“A total of three cases of diphtheria have been confirmed this year in Osun State. While one has fully recovered, one is dead, the other third person is still under treatment and is responding to treatment.”