UNICEF Advocates Passenger Screening at Owerri Airport to Curb Diphtheria Outbreak in Imo State

UNICEF Calls for Health Screenings at Owerri Airport Amid Diphtheria Outbreak in Imo State The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged the implementation of routine health screenings for incoming passengers at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, following a confirmed outbreak of diphtheria in Imo State.

The outbreak, with the index case reported in Mbutu community, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, has raised concerns due to the disease’s highly contagious nature. Diphtheria, caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, primarily affects the throat and nose and spreads through respiratory droplets or contact with contaminated surfaces and wounds.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), symptoms usually appear between two to five days after exposure but can take up to ten days. If untreated, diphtheria can cause serious complications including heart failure, nerve damage, or death. Children are particularly vulnerable, with a fatality rate of up to 10%.

Speaking at an emergency briefing in Owerri, Dr. Bamidele Akinleye, UNICEF Health Specialist, stressed the urgency of preventive measures, especially at major points of entry like the Owerri airport, which is located near the outbreak's epicentre.

"It is imperative that passengers arriving at the Sam Mbakwe Airport undergo routine health checks," Akinleye said. "This will help identify and contain potential cases before the disease spreads into larger communities."

UNICEF, in collaboration with the Imo State Government, is responding through a comprehensive strategy involving case management, infection control, vaccination campaigns, and public awareness. Akinleye confirmed that at least 10 lives have already been lost to the outbreak.

The most affected areas include Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Owerri North, and Owerri Municipal. Dr. Chibuzo Anyaehie, the State Immunisation Officer, reported that over 4,000 residents had received diphtheria vaccines. She also noted the distribution of additional vaccine doses to local health centres to boost immunisation efforts.

Anyaehie revealed that 79 suspected cases had been recorded so far, with seven confirmed through laboratory testing. Treatment and isolation facilities have been set up in Mbutu, while the Aboh General Hospital has been upgraded to handle severe cases.

UNICEF Communications Officer Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe praised frontline health workers for their efforts and called on journalists to support public health education by sharing accurate information about diphtheria symptoms, prevention, and treatment.

“Media professionals must be active partners in public health advocacy,” she said, emphasizing that diphtheria is preventable through vaccination. She also appealed to religious and community leaders to encourage routine immunisation for children.

The ongoing response reflects a coordinated effort to prevent further spread and mitigate the public health risk posed by the outbreak.