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More Nigerians Die as Diphtheria Cases Spread

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 1,319 deaths from diphtheria between epidemiological week 19 of 2022 and week 10 of 2025, underscoring significant gaps in vaccination coverage.

At least 42,642 suspected cases were recorded across 37 states and 350 local government areas, with 25,812 confirmed cases and 5,470 unclassified. The most affected states include Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa, accounting for 96.3% of suspected cases. 

NCDC has implemented response measures, including surveillance, vaccination drives, and risk communication, however, challenges persist, including low test positivity rates, reliance on clinical symptoms for diagnosis, and limited testing resources due to inadequate reagents and consumables.

InFocus

Adeokun Adesegun/UNICEF

Nigeria raises alarm over unprecedented Diphtheria outbreak.

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