Following the outbreak of diphtheria in some parts of Plateau State, the state government on Saturday, September 5, ordered closure of all public and private schools across the state with effect from Monday.
It will be recalled that the Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Nicholas Ba’amlong, recently confirmed that 24 persons had so far died of the disease and 142 infected in Jos North Local Government Area of the state.
According to the World Health Organisation, diphtheria is caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that release a harmful substance known as a toxin.
This toxin creates a thick, grey or white coating (called a pseudomembrane) in the back of the throat, which can make it very hard to breathe and swallow
However, the state government, in a statement signed by the Commissioner of Information and Communication, Mr Joyce Lohya Ramnap, on Saturday,said the decision to close down the schools was taking as preventative measures against the outbreak in some parts of the state notably Jos North, Wase, Jos South and Bassa local Government areas.
The government therefore directed schools that have already resumed academic activities to shut down from Monday, September 7 and remain closed until further notice.
It enjoined school proprietors, administrators, teachers, parents and guardians to comply with the directive and ensure that students and pupils remain at home throughout the period.
This, it said, was part of measures to ensure the safety and well-being of pupils, students, teaching and non-teaching staff during the period of the outbreak of the disease.
The government added that further information on the resumption of academic activities will be communicated to the public when the situation regarding the disease outbreak improves.
