The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 25,812 cases of diphtheria out of 42,642 suspected cases reported across the country, with 1,319 deaths recorded as of March 9, 2025.
According to the PUNCH, the latest data, obtained exclusively from the NCDC, indicates that the confirmed cases span 184 local government areas across 26 states, while suspected cases have been reported in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the report, Kano leads with 18,108 confirmed cases, followed by Yobe (2,408), Bauchi (2,334), Katsina (1,501), Borno (1,161), Plateau (119), Jigawa (53), and Kaduna (44), collectively accounting for 99.7% of confirmed infections.
“Of the 42,642 suspected cases reported, 25,812 (60.5%) were confirmed cases, with 396 laboratory-confirmed, 216 epidemiologically linked, and 25,200 clinically compatible. A total of 1,319 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 5.1%, were recorded among confirmed cases,” the report stated.
The data further revealed that children aged 1 to 14 years accounted for 62.9% of confirmed cases, with only 19.3% of infected individuals fully vaccinated with a diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine.
The NCDC noted several challenges, including low test positivity rates, inadequate reagents for polymerase chain reaction testing, and the need for improved case identification and reporting in some states.
To address these issues, the agency said it would continue providing technical support, strengthening laboratory diagnostics, supporting treatment centres with reagents, and engaging social media platforms for public awareness.
