Nigeria is grappling with one of its worst diphtheria outbreaks in decades, with over 1,300 lives lost and tens of thousands of suspected cases reported across the country. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has sounded the alarm, linking the crisis to dangerously low vaccination rates and delays in diagnosis.
According to the NCDC’s latest report from the National Diphtheria Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), published on Sunday, a staggering 42,000 suspected cases have been recorded across all 37 states since 2022. More than 25,800 cases have been confirmed, with Kano State emerging as the epicenter—accounting for a shocking 75% of cases. Other high-burden states include Bauchi, Yobe, and Katsina.
Why Is This Happening?
Diphtheria, a bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, attacks the throat and nasal passages, releasing toxins that can lead to severe complications such as breathing difficulties, heart failure, and nerve damage. The disease is preventable through vaccination, yet only 19.3% of confirmed cases had received full immunization, exposing a critical gap in Nigeria’s vaccination efforts.
Even more alarming, laboratory testing remains a major challenge. In 2024, all confirmed cases were based solely on clinical symptoms rather than laboratory results, highlighting shortages of testing reagents and PCR capacity. “Without proper testing, we may be underreporting or even misdiagnosing cases,” warned Dr. Solomon Chollom, a medical virologist.
Shocking Fatality Rates
The outbreak has led to devastating mortality rates in certain states. While the national case fatality rate stands at 5.1% (one in every 20 cases resulting in death), the numbers are far worse in some regions:
- Kaduna: 50% fatality rate
- Plateau: 48% fatality rate
- Lagos: 83% fatality rate
- Adamawa: 80% fatality rate
What’s Being Done?
In response to the crisis, the Federal Government has launched emergency vaccination campaigns in high-risk states and ramped up community engagement efforts. However, implementation remains slow, and experts fear the situation could deteriorate further without urgent action.
Health officials are calling for:
Mass vaccination drives, particularly targeting children aged 1-14, who make up 62.9% of confirmed cases
Improved laboratory capacity for faster and more accurate diagnosis
Stronger public awareness campaigns to combat misinformation about vaccines
Better access to treatment to reduce fatality rates
A Race Against Time
With new suspected cases still emerging—20 in Lagos and three in Katsina in the latest report—the fight against diphtheria is far from over. Public health experts stress that preventive vaccination remains the best defense, urging parents to ensure their children receive routine immunizations.
As Nigeria battles this deadly outbreak, one thing is clear: closing the vaccination gap is no longer an option—it’s a matter of life and death.
