Niger State in Nigeria has reported 124 confirmed diphtheria cases and 17 deaths over the past seven months. Health authorities confirmed that 103 patients have recovered and been discharged, with cases concentrated in Bida, Suleja, and Shiroro local government areas. The outbreak underscores ongoing challenges in vaccine preventable disease control in the region.
Niger State in north central Nigeria has recorded 124 confirmed diphtheria cases and 17 deaths between January and July 2024. The outbreak has affected three local government areas: Bida, Suleja, and Shiroro. Health officials confirmed that 103 patients have been treated and discharged, while the remaining cases are receiving care.
Diphtheria is a vaccine preventable disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which can lead to severe respiratory complications and death if untreated. The resurgence of diphtheria in Niger State highlights gaps in immunization coverage and public health surveillance in the region. Nigeria has faced recurrent diphtheria outbreaks in recent years, with over 11,000 suspected cases and 453 deaths reported nationwide since December 2022, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
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