The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has revealed that the country is still grappling with a significant diphtheria outbreak, with a total of 41,336 suspected cases recorded across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
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According to data released on Saturday via the agency’s official website, these cases were reported from 350 local government areas between Epidemiological Week 19, 2022, and Epidemiological Week 4, 2025.
The latest statistics indicate that 24,846 cases (60.1%) have been confirmed, while 7,769 cases (18.8%) were discarded after investigation.
Additionally, the classification for 3,546 cases (8.6%) is still pending, and the status of 5,175 cases (12.5%) remains unknown.
The outbreak is particularly concentrated in a handful of states, with Kano bearing the brunt reporting 23,784 suspected cases. Other heavily affected states include Yobe (5,302), Katsina (3,708), Bauchi (3,066), Borno (2,902), Kaduna (777), and Jigawa (364), which together account for 96.5% of all suspected cases.
A closer look at the confirmed cases reveals a disturbing trend: a majority, 15,845 cases (63.9%), have occurred among children aged between one and 14 years.
This underscores the severe impact of the disease on younger populations. Alarmingly, only 4,963 (20%) of the confirmed cases were fully vaccinated with a diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine, highlighting significant gaps in the nation’s immunisation coverage.
The outbreak has led to 1,262 deaths, reflecting a case fatality rate (CFR) of 5.1% among confirmed cases.
Kano recorded the highest number of confirmed cases at 17,770, followed by Bauchi (2,334), Yobe (2,380), Katsina (1,088), Borno (1,036), Jigawa (53), Plateau (31), and Kaduna (44), with these states collectively accounting for 99.4% of all confirmed cases.
In a recent development, NCDC reported eight additional suspected cases across two states in five local government areas. Six of these cases (75%) were confirmed as clinically compatible with diphtheria.
Fortunately, no deaths were recorded in these latest cases, maintaining a CFR of zero percent for this particular period.
NCDC has reiterated the critical importance of strengthening immunisation efforts to combat the disease, particularly given the vulnerability of children. “With the majority of cases occurring in children, bolstering vaccination coverage is imperative,” the agency stated.
In response to the ongoing outbreak, public health campaigns, enhanced surveillance, and rapid response initiatives are being deployed, especially in the hardest-hit states.
As the nation continues its battle against diphtheria, health authorities are urging communities to support immunisation drives and adhere to public health guidelines to prevent further spread of the disease.