By Muhammad Amaan
The Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has urged Nigerians to strengthen vaccination, early detection and community engagement to prevent further spread of diphtheria.
The centre’s Head of the Department of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Dr Tochi Okwor made the call on Tuesday in her opening remark during a webinar entitled “Diphtheria Watch: Know It!! Stop It!”
She said routine immunisation remained critical, particularly in reaching children who received no vaccines or not completed the recommended vaccination schedule.
Dr Okwor said vaccines being available does not automatically mean every child had received them, stressing the need for stronger community-level efforts to close immunisation gaps.
She called on religious and community leaders to provide information on concerns, misconceptions and barriers preventing families from vaccinating their children.
According to her, information from communities will help health authorities to understand public concerns and improve response to diphtheria.
Okwor said healthcare workers must recognise suspected cases early, report them promptly and apply appropriate infection prevention and control measures.
She stressed the need to ensure that people affected by diphtheria received appropriate treatment as quickly as possible to reduce complications and deaths.
Dr Okwor said “every stakeholder has a role, with health workers identifying suspected cases, social mobilisers finding children who missed vaccination, and community leaders addressing vaccine concerns.”
She said the tools needed to prevent diphtheria already exist, but the major challenge is ensuring that they reached vulnerable populations and used effectively.
The Coordination of Pillar Lead for Nigeria’s National Diphtheria Urgent Committee, Ms Peace Umar, said diphtheria was an acute toxin-mediated infection caused by toxin-producing Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
She explained that the disease primarily affects the respiratory tract, although it can occasionally occur as a cutaneous infection.
Ms Peace said diphtheria spreads mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
“The disease can also spread through direct or indirect contact with skin lesions, contaminated clothing and household objects,” she said.
She explained that the incubation period is usually two to five days but can extend to 10 days, making monitoring of contacts important.
According to her, early symptoms include fever, sore throat, a whitish or greyish membrane in the throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, and neck swelling.
She warned that diphtheria can cause serious complications, including damage to the heart, muscles and kidneys, and may result in death.
Ms Peace said the risk of death was particularly concerning where diphtheria antitoxin is unavailable or treatment is delayed.
She noted that suspected cases required throat and nasal swab samples, preferably collected before antibiotics are administered, to support accurate laboratory testing.
“Treatment involves diphtheria antitoxin and antibiotic therapy, while suspected or confirmed patients should be isolated to prevent further transmission.
“Patients who are partially vaccinated should complete their immunisation, while those who have never been vaccinated should begin and complete the recommended vaccination process.
“Contact tracing is essential following identification of a case, with contacts assessed, vaccinated where necessary and monitored for symptoms,” she said.
According to her, contacts may receive vaccination or booster doses, while appropriate preventive antibiotic treatment may also be provided.
She identified overcrowding, poor access to healthcare, inadequate sanitation and hygiene, incomplete immunisation and low community vaccination coverage as major risk factors.
“Other vulnerable groups include children under 15, particularly those aged five to nine years, under-immunised communities, displaced populations, adults without adequate immunity, healthcare workers and close household contacts,” she said.
The coordinator said Nigeria recorded 17,866 suspected diphtheria cases across 26 states and 296 local government areas in 2026, with 13,950 confirmed cases and 431 deaths, representing a case fatality rate of 3.1 per cent.
She said Kano recorded the highest number of suspected cases during epidemiological weeks one to 36, followed by Yobe, Bauchi and Borno, while Kano also recorded the highest number of confirmed cases.
“Since the outbreak began in 2022, Nigeria has recorded 79,454 suspected cases across 37 states and 440 local government areas, including 54,076 confirmed cases across 32 states and 300 local government areas.
“The outbreak resulted in 2,749 confirmed deaths, with a cumulative case fatality rate of 5.1 per cent, while clinically compatible cases accounted for the majority of confirmed classifications.”
She, therefore, urged Nigerians to seek prompt care when symptoms occur, report suspected cases, support vaccination and community engagement, saying “everyone has a role to play in stopping diphtheria.”
