A serious outbreak of diphtheria has killed several children in Mbutu community, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, leading to the immediate closure of all schools in the area.
The chairman of Aboh Mbaise LGA, Iheukwumere Alaribe, confirmed the outbreak in a statement on May 26, 2025. Although the exact number of children who died has not been confirmed, local authorities say the situation is being handled with urgency.
Diphtheria is a highly infectious disease caused by a bacteria called *Corynebacterium diphtheriae*. It mostly affects the nose and throat, but it can also damage the skin. It spreads through coughs, sneezes, and close contact with infected people or objects.
Alaribe’s spokesman, Godspower Dike, said the disease claimed the lives of the children less than a week after it started spreading.
He said, “The World Health Organisation (WHO), the Department of Disease Prevention and Control in the Imo State Ministry of Health, and local health workers are working together to find and stop the spread of the disease.”
An isolation centre has now been set up at the Mbutu Health Centre. Health workers have been deployed to treat infected children, quarantine those who may have been exposed, and support affected families.
As part of the response, all schools in Mbutu have been shut temporarily, and parents have been asked to keep their children at home to avoid further infections.
Chairman Alaribe also urged parents to vaccinate their children immediately.
“In light of this outbreak, parents who have not yet vaccinated their children are strongly urged to do so without delay,” he said. “Vaccinations are crucial for preventing the spread of diseases and protecting our children’s health.”
Dike also appealed to the public to stay calm. He said, “We encourage the public to remain calm and cooperate with the relevant authorities as we work to control this outbreak. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.”
This is not the first time diphtheria has taken lives in Nigeria. Earlier in May, the disease killed two children in the Tukur-Tukur community of Zaria, Kaduna State.
Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease, and health officials continue to stress the importance of routine immunisation.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), as of March 9, 2025, Nigeria had recorded 25,812 confirmed diphtheria cases out of 42,642 suspected cases. The outbreak has spread across 184 local government areas in 26 states, leading to 1,319 deaths between 2022 and 2025.
Health officials are urging Nigerians to stay informed and take vaccination seriously to help stop the disease from spreading further.
