By Latiifah Amusan
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has reported a devastating surge in diphtheria cases in Nigeria, with 83 deaths and 836 confirmed cases since the start of this year.
The outbreak has raised significant concerns among health officials and the general public.
Addressing the press during a news briefing in Abuja, the Executive Director of NPHCDA, Faisal Shuaib, expressed the severity of the situation.
He revealed that from May 2022 to July 2023, a staggering 2,455 suspected cases of diphtheria have been reported across 26 states.
As of July 27, 2023, the outbreak has hit hard in eight states: Cross River, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Lagos, Osun, Yobe, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). These states have collectively confirmed 836 cases in 33 local government areas.
Diphtheria is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
The infection can lead to severe complications, especially in vulnerable populations, such as children and individuals with weakened immune systems.
