The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that the country is still grappling with a widespread diphtheria outbreak, with over 41,000 suspected cases recorded across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
In its latest update published on Saturday, the agency revealed that between Epidemiological Week 19 of 2022 and Epidemiological Week 4 of 2025, a total of 41,336 suspected cases had been documented across 350 local government areas.
According to the NCDC, “24,846 cases, representing 60.1%, have been confirmed, while 7,769 cases (18.8%) were discarded. The classification of 3,546 cases (8.6%) is still pending, while the status of 5,175 cases (12.5%) remains unknown.”
The data shows that seven states account for the majority of cases, with Kano leading at 23,784 suspected infections. Other affected states include Yobe (5,302), Katsina (3,708), Bauchi (3,066), Borno (2,902), Kaduna (777), and Jigawa (364).
These states alone make up 96.5% of all suspected cases. For confirmed infections, Kano remains the most affected, with 17,770 cases, followed by Bauchi (2,334), Yobe (2,380), Katsina (1,088), Borno (1,036), Jigawa (53), Plateau (31), and Kaduna (44). These states collectively account for 99.4% of all confirmed cases.
The NCDC highlighted that children remain the most vulnerable group.
“Of the confirmed cases, the majority—15,845 (63.9%)—occurred among children aged one to 14 years, highlighting the disease’s severe impact on younger populations,” the agency stated.
A significant concern is the low vaccination rate among confirmed cases. The NCDC disclosed that only 4,963 patients (20%) had received full immunisation with a diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine, pointing to gaps in vaccination coverage.
The outbreak has so far resulted in 1,262 deaths, translating to a case fatality rate of 5.1% among confirmed infections.
The agency also reported that eight new suspected cases had been identified in two states across five local government areas. Six of these cases were found to be clinically compatible with diphtheria, but no deaths were recorded, keeping the CFR at zero for the period.
Emphasizing the role of vaccination in combating the outbreak, the NCDC reiterated the need for intensified immunisation campaigns.
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“With the majority of cases occurring in children, strengthening immunisation efforts remains critical,” the agency stated.
It added that public health campaigns, improved disease surveillance, and rapid response initiatives were being implemented, particularly in the hardest-hit states.
