The Gombe State Commissioner of Health, Dr Habu Dahiru, has announced that the state Public Health Emergency Operations Centre has been placed on alert following suspected cases of diphtheria in Herwagana Ward in the state.
He said the state had in addition to the three suspected cases, recorded one confirmed case.
The confirmed case, according to him, indicated that the affected child had not been immunised against Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus, which come together in one vaccine, preventable through the pentavalent vaccine administered three times to protect against childhood killer diseases.
The commissioner, therefore, called on residents of the state to take advantage of vaccines for diphtheria prevention available at Primary Health Centres across Gombe State and urged parents and guardians to ensure prompt vaccination of their children to protect them from the potentially fatal disease.
Dahiru called for increased awareness and proactive measures to contain the spread of diphtheria in the affected areas.
