Nigeria has reported a total of 798 cases of diphtheria, resulting in 80 deaths.
These cases have been identified in eight states, spanning across 33 Local Government Areas in the country, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The NCDC, in a press statement signed by its Director General, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, revealed the latest figures on Thursday. The first confirmed case of diphtheria in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, prompted this disclosure.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration had previously announced the death of a four-year-old child in the Deidei District due to the disease.
In response to the outbreak, the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat has activated the diphtheria Incident Management System to coordinate the efforts of outbreak response activities.
As of July 3, 2023, the NCDC reported only one confirmed case in the FCT, with seven suspected cases testing negative and others awaiting laboratory results.
The NCDC emphasized that since December 2022, diphtheria cases have been identified in various states, including Kano, Lagos, Yobe, Katsina, Cross River, Kaduna, Osun, and the FCT. Among these, Kano state has reported the highest number of cases, with 782 confirmed instances.
According to the NCDC, the majority (71.7 percent) of the confirmed cases occurred among children aged two to 14 years. To date, a total of 80 deaths have been recorded among all confirmed cases, resulting in a case fatality rate of 10.0 percent.
Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by a toxin produced by the bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Nigeria’s childhood immunization schedule includes a vaccine for this disease. However, despite the availability of a safe and cost-effective vaccine, 82 percent of the confirmed diphtheria cases in the ongoing outbreak were found to be unvaccinated.
The NCDC attributes the outbreak to historical sub-optimal vaccination coverage, particularly among the most affected age group (two to 14 years). A national survey on diphtheria immunity revealed that less than half (41.7 percent) of children under 15 years old are fully protected against the disease.
The agency is collaborating with the FCT Health and Human Services Department to implement control measures and prevent further spread of the disease, mirroring the actions taken in other states reporting cases.
In December 2022, the NCDC established a multi-sectoral national Diphtheria Technical Working Group to coordinate surveillance and response activities across the country.
The public is urged to remain vigilant and seek early medical attention for individuals displaying symptoms of diphtheria. Timely diagnosis and effective treatment are crucial for a positive outcome.
Healthcare workers are also encouraged to promptly notify LGA disease surveillance officers upon encountering a suspected case.