Diphtheria Outbreak: 520 reported dead in Kano

According to Dr. Muhammad Mahmud, director general of the Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board, 520 children are believed to have died as a result of the diphtheria outbreak in the state this year (2023).

Mahmud revealed this to reporters on Tuesday in Kano at a one-day media orientation on the diphtheria outbreak sponsored by the UN Children's Fund.

Mahmud disclosed this while speaking to newsmen at a one-day media orientation on the diphtheria outbreak, supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund held in Kano on Tuesday.

“There is data we generated through our digital surveillance and reporting system. This year Kano reported about 8,700 suspected cases of diphtheria and 6,300 confirmed, with about 520 children suspected to have died of this illness.

“We tracked this on a daily and weekly, we believe the cases are much more than what we are getting, as we witness the increase of the cases from July,” he said.

Out of the 44 local governments in the state, 39 local governments reported instances, and the cases grew worse inside the eight urban local governments, the DG continued.

According to him, UNICEF continued to support the government of Kano State this week by delivering 1.2 million immunisations as part of the government's response to the diphtheria outbreaks.

Source