Zamfara extends school resumption over diphtheria outbreak

The Zamfara State Government has extended the resumption of public and private schools by two weeks following a diphtheria outbreak that has killed 44 people across the state.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abdulmalik Gajam, announced the decision on Monday in Gusau, saying schools would tentatively reopen on September 28, subject to further advice from health authorities.

The extension followed an advisory from the state Ministry of Health, which reported 367 clinically suspected diphtheria cases, with more than 320 patients treated and discharged.

The State Director of Public Health, Yusuf Haske, said laboratory tests conducted on samples from suspected patients at the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja confirmed the outbreak.

According to him, Governor Dauda Lawal subsequently directed the ministry to declare the outbreak and activate the incident management system to coordinate the response.

Haske said rapid response teams had been deployed across the state’s 14 local government areas, while general hospitals established isolation centres for the treatment of patients.

He added that Gusau Local Government Area, which recorded the highest number of cases, had about four treatment centres.

The director attributed the continued spread of the disease partly to active community transmission, noting that children between six and 10 years were among the most affected.

He said the ministry advised the Education Ministry to delay school resumption to enable health authorities to intensify case management, surveillance, community engagement, health education and preventive measures.

“Although the number of cases is still increasing, the number of deaths has reduced, and many patients are responding positively to treatment,” Haske said.

In his statement, Gajam directed parents, teachers, school proprietors and school management boards to comply with the extension.

He said the additional period would allow the authorities to strengthen disease surveillance, contact tracing, vaccination verification, public sensitisation and other preventive measures.

The commissioner also urged schools to clean and decontaminate their premises and provide adequate handwashing facilities before reopening.

Haske advised residents to remain vigilant and seek immediate medical attention when they notice symptoms associated with diphtheria.

He said surveillance and notification officers were working across the 14 local government areas to identify suspected cases and ensure prompt intervention, while health officials continued sensitisation campaigns in affected communities.