Korede Abdullah in Lagos
A devastating diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria has resulted in the loss of at least 1,191 lives over the past 17 months, according to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
Since May 2023, the country has reported 38,000 suspected cases, with 23,000 confirmed cases.
This bacterial infection affects the nose, throat, and sometimes the skin, and is highly contagious.
Muzzammil Gadanya, incident manager of the National Diphtheria Emergency Operations Center at the NCDC, revealed that public health authorities are working to reduce the spread of the disease and evaluate strategies to combat the outbreak.
“So far, at least 1,191 people have died from the disease,”, Gadanya said.
Vaccines have been made available for routine immunization to contain the disease.
However, Nigeria’s vaccination coverage remains a concern, with only 57% of the population having received the pentavalent vaccine, which protects against diphtheria and four other life-threatening diseases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged Nigeria to increase vaccination coverage to at least 80% to ensure community protection and prevent future outbreaks.
Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease, and adequate vaccination coverage is crucial in preventing cases and outbreaks.
The WHO recommends early reporting and case management of suspected diphtheria cases, as well as prophylactic antibiotics for close contacts of confirmed cases.
The ongoing outbreak highlights the need for improved vaccination coverage and public health measures in Nigeria.
With the majority of confirmed cases affecting children under 14 years old, medical experts say it’s essential for the country to prioritize vaccination and disease prevention.
The NCDC and WHO are working together to strengthen diphtheria vaccination coverage nationwide, particularly in the most affected states.
