The Plateau State Government has confirmed that the number of suspected diphtheria cases in the state has risen to 303, with the death toll increasing to 27.
The State Epidemiologist, Dr Maren Damulak, disclosed this on Wednesday in Jos.
He said the number of fatalities had risen from the previously reported 23.
Damulak said the majority of the suspected cases were recorded in Jos North Local Government Area, with Rikkos community identified as one of the worst-hit areas.
He added that children constituted a significant proportion of those affected.
In response to the outbreak, the state government has intensified surveillance, contact tracing, community sensitisation and vaccination in affected communities.
As part of containment measures, the government had earlier order
ordered the temporary closure of all public and private primary and secondary schools in the state, effective from September 7.
The directive followed the detection of suspected cases in Jos North, Jos South, Bassa and Wase LGAs.
According to the government, the closure is aimed at reducing transmission among pupils, students and school staff while health authorities scale up surveillance and response activities.