The incident, reported in the early hours of Saturday, January 3, prompted the state government to immediately activate a rapid response mechanism aimed at containing the situation and preventing further loss of life. Officials confirmed that several other children in the community have shown symptoms consistent with diphtheria, a highly contagious but vaccine-preventable disease.
Commissioner for Health, Murtala Bagana, said he received a distress call alerting the ministry to the suspected outbreak and promptly convened an emergency meeting involving key health stakeholders. Those mobilised included officials from the Bida Local Government Primary Health Care department, the Disease Surveillance and Notification Office (DSNO), the Local Immunisation Office (LIO), field epidemiologists, and representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Following the meeting, medical teams were deployed to the affected community for rapid assessment and immediate intervention. Suspected cases were examined on-site and subsequently evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) for laboratory confirmation and specialised medical care.
Speaking to parents and community members during the intervention, the Commissioner underscored the importance of routine immunisation, stressing that incomplete vaccination from birth leaves children highly vulnerable to preventable diseases such as diphtheria. He also reminded residents of the provisions of the Child Rights Act, highlighting the legal and moral duty of parents and guardians to protect the health and wellbeing of their children.
Bagana reassured the public that all identified cases are currently receiving appropriate treatment and that active surveillance, including contact tracing, has commenced within the community to identify and monitor potential exposures.
He further disclosed that the state government, in collaboration with the WHO and other health partners, is set to roll out targeted vaccination campaigns, intensify routine immunisation efforts, and strengthen disease surveillance and reporting systems. According to him, community engagement will also be prioritised to raise awareness and prevent the spread of the disease to neighbouring areas.
Health officials urged residents to promptly report any symptoms such as sore throat, fever or difficulty breathing, and to ensure that all eligible children are fully immunised as authorities work to bring the situation under control.