More than 50 children have reportedly died following a diphtheria outbreak in Rano Local Government Area of Kano State, northwestern Nigeria, with a state lawmaker calling for urgent measures to prevent further deaths.
Ibrahim Malami, who represents Rano Constituency in the Kano State House of Assembly, disclosed the situation on Tuesday while presenting a motion of urgent public importance. He said communities in Rurum Ward, including Rurum A, Rurum B and Sabuwar Kaura, had been seriously affected by the outbreak.
According to Malami, the local government’s medical department had activated emergency measures to tackle the disease, while his office had supplied medicines to assist the ongoing response.
He appealed to Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and health officials to increase support for the affected communities by providing additional healthcare workers, medicines and other emergency supplies.
“We want to inform the Governor and the Commissioner for Health to send further emergency aid to the region because the disease has spread heavily in that area,” Malami said.
Usman Abubakar Tasiu, another member of the Assembly representing Kiru Constituency, said the outbreak was no longer limited to Rano. He reported that suspected cases had also emerged in Kwanar Dangora, Garin Dangora and Yelwa communities in the neighboring Kiru Local Government Area.
Following the lawmakers’ concerns, the state Assembly passed a resolution calling for immediate government action. It also directed its health committee to work with the state Ministry of Health to ensure that emergency interventions are promptly carried out in the affected communities.
Diphtheria is a contagious bacterial disease capable of causing serious complications and death, particularly among children who have not been adequately vaccinated. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children receive three doses of the pentavalent vaccine, which provides protection against diphtheria, at six, 10 and 14 weeks of age.
Nigeria has experienced repeated outbreaks of diphtheria in recent years, with Kano State among the areas most severely affected. During a major national outbreak in 2023, the World Health Organization reported that Kano recorded the largest share of suspected cases.
The latest reported fatalities highlight continuing gaps in immunisation, disease monitoring and access to prompt medical care as authorities intensify efforts to control the spread of diphtheria in the state.
