A sudden outbreak of diphtheria has claimed several lives in the Mbutu community of Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area (LGA) in Imo State, prompting urgent health and safety measures.
In a press statement, the Executive Chairman of the LGA, Iheukwumere Alaribe, confirmed the tragic development, revealing that multiple children have died within a week as a result of the outbreak.
To curb the spread of the highly contagious disease, all nursery, primary, and secondary schools in the affected community have been ordered closed with immediate effect.
Health authorities, including officials from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Imo State Ministry of Health’s Department of Disease Prevention and Control, and the Aboh Mbaise Health Authority, have launched a coordinated emergency response. An isolation centre has been established at the Mbutu Health Centre, with medical personnel on ground to manage and monitor affected and at-risk children.
Alaribe appealed to parents and guardians to ensure their children are vaccinated, describing immunisation as the most reliable protection against diphtheria and similar infections.
While urging residents to stay calm, the state government assured that regular updates would be provided as containment efforts progress. The authorities also called for public cooperation to bring the situation under control swiftly.
