Diphtheria: WHO rates Nigeria as high risk with over 4,700 confirmed cases

Nigeria has recorded 4,717 confirmed cases of diphtheria, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The epidemiological report by the global health watchdog showed that between June 30 and August 31, 2023, Nigeria recorded an unusual increase in the number of confirmed diphtheria cases.

The report reads: “Of the cumulative 8,353 suspected cases reported since the outbreak was first reported in 2022, 4,717 (56.5 per cent) cases were confirmed (lab confirmed1 (169; 3.6 per cent), epidemiologically linked (117; 2.5 per cent) and clinical compatibility (4431; 93.9 per cent)). While 1,857 (22.2 per cent) were discarded as not compatible with diphtheria, 1048 (12.5 per cent) cases are pending classification, and 731 (8.8 per cent) cases had unknown diagnoses.

“Of the 4,717 confirmed cases, 3,466 (73.5 per cent) were aged 1 – 14 years, of these 699 were aged 0-4 years, 1,505 aged 5-9 years, 1,262 (aged 10 – 14 years. More than half of the cases (2,656; 56.3 per cent) were females. Only 1,074 (22.8 per cent) of the confirmed cases were fully vaccinated against diphtheria, 299 (6.3 per cent) were partially vaccinated. More than half of the cases (2,801; 59.4 per cent) were unvaccinated.

Also, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, has constituted an emergency task force to curb diphtheria outbreak in the country.

Diphtheria cases have been detected in 14 states, with Kano being the epicentre.

The other states are: Lagos, Osun, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nasarawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Plateau, Zamfara, Jigawa, and Kano.