The Nigeria Centre for Illness Management and Prevention, NCDC, has stated that the nation continues to grapple with a diphtheria outbreak.
NCDC, through its official web site, reported {that a} complete of 41,336 suspected diphtheria circumstances had been recorded throughout 36 states and the FCT.
The circumstances have been reported from 350 native authorities areas between Epidemiological Week 19, 2022, and Epidemiological Week 4, 2025.
In line with NCDC’s newest knowledge, 24,846 circumstances (60.1%) have been confirmed, whereas 7,769 (18.8%) have been discarded.
The classification of three,546 circumstances (8.6%) is pending, whereas the standing of 5,175 circumstances (12.5%) stays unknown.
The company famous that the outbreak is concentrated in a couple of states, with Kano main with 23,784 suspected circumstances, adopted by Yobe (5,302), Katsina (3,708), Bauchi (3,066), Borno (2,902), Kaduna (777), and Jigawa (364).
These seven states account for 96.5 per cent of all suspected circumstances.
“Of the confirmed circumstances, the bulk—15,845 (63.9%)—occurred amongst kids aged one to 14 years, highlighting the illness’s extreme influence on youthful populations.
“Alarmingly, solely 4,963 (20%) of the confirmed circumstances have been totally vaccinated with a diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine, suggesting gaps in vaccination protection,” the company acknowledged.
NCDC reported that the outbreak has resulted in 1,262 deaths, reflecting a case fatality price, CFR, of 5.1 per cent amongst confirmed circumstances.
The best variety of confirmed circumstances was recorded in Kano (17,770), adopted 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 per cent of all confirmed circumstances.
The company additional disclosed that eight suspected circumstances have been not too long ago recorded in two states throughout 5 native authorities areas.
Six of the circumstances (75%) have been confirmed as clinically appropriate with diphtheria.
No deaths have been recorded within the newest circumstances, maintaining the CFR at zero per cent for the interval.
NCDC burdened the significance of vaccination in combating the illness.
“With the vast majority of circumstances occurring in kids, strengthening immunisation efforts stays vital.
“Public well being campaigns, improved surveillance, and fast response initiatives are being deployed, significantly within the hardest-hit states,” it acknowledged.
