Diphtheria Outbreak: Nigeria records 836 cases, 80 deaths

Between May and June 2023, Nigeria reported a total of 836 confirmed cases and 80 deaths due to diphtheria.

The confirmed cases were reported in 33 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in seven states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), according to the diphtheria situation report released on Saturday by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

NCDC reported that a total of 2,455 suspected cases were recorded from 24 states during the time period under investigation. It further said that children between the ages of 2 and 14 made up 71.5% of the confirmed cases.

Despite the fact that diphtheria is a disease that can be prevented by vaccination, the NCDC reported that only 181 (21.7%) of the 836 confirmed cases had received the maximum recommended dose of a "diphtheria toxin-containing vaccine."

Kano state was responsible for 819 of the 836 confirmed cases, according to the situation report.

Yobe and Katsina states placed second and third, respectively, on the list, with three and two cases each, and Lagos State came in second with eight cases.

Each of the states of FCT, Osun, Kaduna, and Cross River reported one instance.

98% of suspected cases were also found in the states of Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory, Sokoto, and Zamfara.

Source