Diphtheria has claimed 1,767 lives in Kano and Plateau states amid a widening outbreak that has also affected Katsina and Nasarawa, with a combined 32,797 cases reported across Kano, Plateau and Nasarawa.
Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that primarily affects the nose and throat. It can produce a thick membrane in the throat, making breathing and swallowing difficult, while toxins released by the bacteria can damage vital organs such as the heart, kidneys and lungs and, in severe cases, cause paralysis or death.
Kano accounts for the overwhelming majority of the fatalities, recording 1,744 deaths from 32,633 confirmed cases across its 44 local government areas. Plateau, meanwhile, has recorded 143 suspected cases and 23 deaths, with Jos North identified as the epicentre of the outbreak.
In Katsina, suspected cases have been reported in 29 of the state’s 34 local government areas, with Funtua, Kankia, Bakori, Katsina, Mashi and Daura among the worst affected. The state government has commenced reactive vaccination in 15 high-risk wards and secured an additional 650,000 doses of diphtheria-containing vaccines.
Authorities said the vaccination drive recorded 67,670 eligible people receiving Td vaccines within its first three days, while 24,103 children were administered pentavalent vaccines. Three additional isolation centres have also been established to complement the NCDC-supported facility at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina.
However, health officials identified poor vaccine uptake as a major obstacle to containing the disease. Assistant Director of Epidemiology at the Katsina State Primary Healthcare Agency, Dr Aminu Lawal, said vaccines were available free of charge but urged parents to ensure their children completed the recommended immunisation schedule.
Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Baamlong, said the outbreak was largely concentrated in Jos North, with patients receiving treatment at Jos University Teaching Hospital and Plateau State Specialist Hospital. He said the absence of diphtheria antitoxin was complicating treatment, noting that the disease spreads through coughing, sneezing and contact with infected persons.
Nasarawa has recorded 15 cases involving children aged between two months and 11 years, with 11 cases in Keffi, three in Lafia and one in Wamba. Director of Public Health, Dr Peter Attah, said none of the affected children had been immunised, but all were receiving treatment and no death had been recorded in the state.
The outbreak in Katsina is being compounded by a planned seven-day strike by healthcare professionals from September 8, following the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum to the state government. Health authorities have continued to urge residents to seek early treatment for symptoms including fever, cough, sore throat, neck swelling, difficulty swallowing and breathing, while community leaders have been mobilised to promote vaccination and early reporting of suspected cases.
