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Nigeria Struggles to Contain Diphtheria Outbreak

Nigeria is facing a devastating diphtheria outbreak, which has killed at least 600 people, mostly children, since December 2022. This is worse than the 2011 outbreak, which had only 98 cases. Kano state in northern Nigeria is the epicentre, with more than 500 deaths.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) declared an outbreak of diphtheria in the country. The outbreak has hit 19 of Nigeria's 36 states as well as the federal capital, Abuja. The worst-affected states are all in the north - Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Borno, Jigawa and Kaduna. Children most affected are aged two to 14 years.

Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease, but the outbreak has been attributed to sub-optimal vaccination coverage, as 82% of the confirmed cases were unvaccinated.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious infection that is often fatal in up to 10% of cases. It is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheria, of which humans are the only natural host. It affects all age groups but mostly young children. It is transmitted through respiratory secretions, or by breathing in droplets from an infected person when they cough or sneeze.

InFocus

NCDC/Twiiter

Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection caused by the corynebacterium species that affects an individual’s nose, throat and sometimes, skin.

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