The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 23 suspected cases of diphtheria between March 3 and March 9 in two states, including 20 in Lagos State and 3 in Katsina State.
In its latest weekly report covering epidemiological week 10 of 2025, of the 23 suspected cases reported, none were confirmed to be diphtheria, and no deaths were recorded among the confirmed cases.
NACA, in its National Diphtheria Emergency Operation Centre report, said a total of 42,642 suspected cases were reported from 37 states across 350 LGAs since 2022, as well as 1319 deaths recorded among the confirmed cases.
According to the NCDC, Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa accounted for 96.3 percent of all suspected cases.
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In the report, Kano, Yobe, and Katsina states top the list of states with suspected cases, while Jigawa state recorded the least.
The reported record 25,812 confirmed cases, the majority of which were among children aged one to 14, were distributed across 184 LGAs in 26 states, with Kano (18,108), Bauchi (2,334), Yobe (2408), Katsina (1,501), Borno (1161) and Jigawa (53), Plateau (119) and Kaduna (44) accounting for 99.7 percent of confirmed cases.
However, the NCDC stated that its next steps include continuing to harmonize case management data and follow up with states, providing offsite and onsite support, collaborating on and supervising state diphtheria RCCE activities, and sequencing confirmed cases.
Oyo State Commissioner for Health Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi declared an ongoing community sensitization on diphtheria through the state’s newly created Community-Led Rapid Response Team (CLRRT), which aims to strengthen grassroots disease prevention and response.
According to her, the CLRRT is to reinforce efforts to ensure early detection of infectious diseases by engaging Ward Development Committee Chairman at the grassroots level, including community engagement, dispelling misinformation and encouraging participation in public health initiatives.
“The lessons from previous infectious disease outbreaks in the State have shown us the importance of early detection and a string response system. They will play a critical role in ensuring community cooperation for case detection, isolation and treatment,” she added.
Dr Olukemi Adekanmbi, a consultant infectious disease physician at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, stated that diphtheria, like other diseases that have the potential to affect many more people, is a threat and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
She stated that vaccination against diphtheria is highly effective, with boosters doses to be taken every 10 years.
According to her, diphtheria, a bacterial infection that affects the nose, throat, and sometimes the skin, can be cured with antibiotics and antitoxins. Although the disease could be severe or fatal, it can be cured.
She stated that its symptoms include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough and red eyes. In severe cases, there may be thick or white patch on the tonsils and/or at the back of the throat, difficulty breathing or to swallow.
In terms of prevention, she said vaccination is key and then also such things as basic hygiene, cough etiquette and workplace and school policies that prevent spread of infections at these places.
Dr Adekanmbi added : “There could indeed be circulation of the bacteria that causes diphtheria in the community which hasn’t caused those carrying it to become ill. An interesting fact about diphtheria is that an immunised individual can still be a carrier of the bacteria.
“This means that if an individual is immunised against diphtheria, they can still acquire it from an infected individual but because of the vaccination that they have received, they are unlikely to become sick.
“However, they could potentially infect people who unvaccinated or partially vaccinated and those individuals could become ill with the disease.”
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