Diphtheria in parts of Plateau State that claimed no fewer than 23 lives last week has taken a new upward dimension when a family yesterday rushed to the Primary Healthcare Clinic in Jos with three children who were allegedly affected by the symptoms of the disease.

According to the mother of the allegedly affected children, Hajiya Zainab, she noticed that they were having a kind of difficulty in breathing and swallowing.

“I have to rush them to the nearest health care centre for medication. They have improved drastically now. This is not how they were before at home before rushing them here,” Hajiya Zainab stated through an interpreter.

However, the claims by the mother of the children were viewed by the health workers as mere exaggeration as what she claimed were not there.

Yesterday, the Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Baamlong told The Guardian that the ministry has now recorded an increase of 301 cases of Diphtheria disease while the confirmed death toll has risen from 23 to 25.

Baamlong said that the health workers are intensifying their activities to ensure they immunize people of the state.

He said 14 people are currently on admission as they are still expecting samples from the National Primary Health Centre.

It was when the disease broke out and claimed lives that the state government ordered on Saturday, September 5, 2026, that all private and public primary and secondary schools should be shut down temporarily pending when the situation improves.

Government added that the measure is to forestall further spread of the dangerous and contagious disease.

There were 143 cases of the disease before it now rises to 301. (The Guardian)