Nigeria Reports 41,000 Diphtheria Cases

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has announced that the country is still dealing with a severe diphtheria outbreak, with 41,336 suspected cases reported across 37 states.

These cases, which included 350 local government districts, were recorded between Epidemiological Week 19 in 2022 and Epidemiological Week 4 in 2025.

According to the latest NCDC statistics, 24,846 cases (60.1%) were confirmed, 7,769 (18.8%) were eliminated, 3,546 (8.6%) are still awaiting categorization, and the status of 5,175 cases (12.5%) is uncertain.

The outbreak is focused in a few states, with Kano leading with 23,784 suspected cases, followed by Yobe (5,302), Katsina (3,708), Bauchi (3,066), Borno (2,902), Kaduna (777), and Jigawa (364). These seven states represent 96.5% of all suspected instances.

Of the confirmed cases, 63.9% (15,845) were among children aged one to 14 years, emphasizing the significant impact on young populations.

Only 20% (4,963) of confirmed cases were fully immunized with a diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine, indicating severe gaps in immunization coverage. The outbreak has resulted in 1,262 deaths among confirmed cases, with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 5.1%.

Kano recorded the most confirmed cases (17,770), followed by Bauchi (2,334), Yobe (2,380), Katsina (1,088), Borno (1,036), Jigawa (53), Plateau (31), and Kaduna (44). These states account for 99.4% of confirmed instances.

During the most recent reporting period, eight suspected cases were found in two states and five local government units. Six of these instances (75%) were confirmed as clinically consistent with diphtheria, and no deaths occurred, resulting in a zero CFR for the most recent cases.

The NCDC stressed the need of immunization in combating the outbreak, particularly as children account for the vast majority of illnesses. The organization has increased public health campaigns, strengthened surveillance, and implemented fast response activities, particularly in the hardest-hit states. It emphasized the importance of reducing the vaccination gap in order to prevent the disease’s spread and minimize the high death rate.

Diphtheria is a bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae that mostly affects the mucous membranes of the throat and nose. The bacteria produce a toxin, which can leave a thick gray or white coating on the throat, making breathing difficult. Severe cases can harm the heart, neurological system, and other organs. Immunization with the diphtheria vaccine remains the most effective preventive measure, and it is routinely given as part of standard childhood vaccines.

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