A suspected diphtheria outbreak has claimed the lives of four children and left five others infected in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Mallam Bashir Magaji Basharata, a resident of Kwarbai in Zaria City, who lost a daughter and has three other children showing symptoms, said the disease is spreading rapidly in the area.

He said his daughter developed symptoms including a swollen neck, difficulty breathing, and an inability to speak. She was rushed to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, but sadly passed away.

Basharata also revealed that four additional children exhibiting diphtheria-like symptoms had been admitted to the Kakaki Primary Health Care Clinic in a nearby community.

In a telephone interview on Monday night, Dr. Bello Jamoh, Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Board, confirmed that the state has been battling diphtheria outbreaks for the past 10 months.

"Although I wasn't aware of this particular outbreak, I will liaise with the State Ministry of Health to dispatch a response team tomorrow for prompt action," he said.