The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KSCDC) has reported that 1,747 people have died from diphtheria in the state since the outbreak began in December 2022.
The agency also recorded 32,633 confirmed cases out of 39,536 suspected cases, with the disease now reported across all 44 local government areas of Kano State.
The Director-General of the KSCDC, Dr Muhammad Abbas, disclosed the figures during an interview with Channels Television.
Abbas also dismissed reports that 50 children recently died from diphtheria in Rano Local Government Area, describing the claim as inaccurate.
According to him, Rano recorded 29 deaths during the period under review, but only three were confirmed to have been caused by diphtheria following active case searches in communities.
He identified low vaccination coverage and delays in seeking medical treatment as major challenges in the fight against the disease.
Abbas said only 24.35 per cent of confirmed diphtheria patients were fully vaccinated, while 75.65 per cent were either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.
“Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable condition. People who took vaccines tend to have fewer complications,” he said.
The KSCDC chief disclosed that Kano requires nearly nine million doses of diphtheria vaccine to conduct a mass vaccination campaign across the state.
He said the state currently has enough vaccines mainly for reactive vaccination in communities where cases have been detected.
The Federal Government, he added, has supplied Kano with 500,000 vials of diphtheria vaccine for people above four years of age and 150,000 doses for children below four.
Abbas further said that many patients arrive at health facilities late, increasing the risk of complications and death. Simple cases can be treated with antibiotics, while severe cases may require diphtheria antitoxin (DAT).
He also said the state government is working with traditional rulers and traditional healers to raise awareness, address vaccine hesitancy and encourage residents to seek medical attention early.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that can spread through respiratory droplets. Common symptoms include cough, fever, drooling, neck pain and difficulty swallowing.
In severe cases, the disease can cause swelling of the neck, sometimes referred to as a “bull neck,” as well as the formation of a greyish-white membrane in the throat.
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