A diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria has claimed 1,319 lives since 2022, with health officials warning that poor vaccination coverage is fueling the crisis.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported that 42,642 suspected cases have emerged across 37 states and 350 local government areas (LGAs). Of these, 25,812 cases have been confirmed, while 5,470 remain unclassified.
Northern States Hit Hardest
The outbreak has spread rapidly in the north. Seven states—Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa—account for 96.3/percent of all suspected cases. The high concentration of infections has raised concerns about healthcare access and immunization efforts in these regions.
Children between the ages of one and 14 have been the most affected. They make up 62.9/percent (16,234) of confirmed cases. Despite the availability of vaccines, only 19.3/percent (4,981) of infected individuals had received full immunization. This gap highlights the urgent need to expand vaccination programs.
New Cases and Government Response
In epidemiological week 10 of 2025, health officials recorded 23 new suspected cases—20 in Lagos and three in Katsina. However, none were confirmed, and no deaths occurred. While this suggests a temporary decline, authorities remain on high alert.
The NCDC has ramped up its response. Measures include increased surveillance, laboratory testing, case management, and vaccination campaigns. Public awareness efforts are also underway to encourage immunization and early diagnosis.
Key Challenges in Containment
Despite these efforts, several obstacles remain. The NCDC revealed that all confirmed cases in 2024 were diagnosed based on symptoms alone due to limited laboratory resources. A shortage of testing materials has made it difficult to confirm cases through lab analysis.
Health officials stress that improving vaccination rates and strengthening testing capacity are crucial. The NCDC continues to urge communities to get vaccinated and follow preventive measures to curb the outbreak.