By Terna Chikpa
Confusion has trailed the reported outbreak of diphtheria in Taraba State, following conflicting figures from the State Epidemiologist and Coordinator of Health Security, Dr Udi Aketemo, and the Commissioner for Health, Dr Bordiya Buma.
While the state epidemiologist said 15 cases of diphtheria had been recorded, including one death, the Commissioner for Health said only one case had been confirmed and that the patient was in stable condition.
The epidemiologist told journalists that the first confirmed case was recorded in Bali Local Government Area of the state.
“Yes, we have recorded 15 cases of diphtheria with one dead,” the state epidemiologist confirmed.
However, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Bordiya Buma, denied the report, insisting that the state had recorded only one confirmed case.
“It’s only one case. I don’t know of other cases, and the patient is in stable condition. The patient is not dead, and we have not recorded a fatality case of the disease,” the commissioner stated.