The article reports on a serious diphtheria outbreak in Kano, Nigeria, where 1,747 people have died among 32,633 confirmed cases since December 2022. The disease has affected all 44 local government areas in the state. Dr. Muhammad Abbas, the Director-General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control, highlighted that a large majority of those infected—about 75.65%—were either not vaccinated or only partially vaccinated. He emphasized that diphtheria is preventable through vaccination, and many complications arise in unvaccinated individuals. To combat the outbreak, Kano needs approximately nine million vaccine doses for mass vaccination campaigns. Although the state has received some vaccines from the federal government, they are currently only enough for targeted responses in affected communities. Dr. Abbas also noted that many cases were reported late, which complicates treatment. He explained that diphtheria spreads through the air and can cause symptoms like cough, fever, and difficulty swallowing. Efforts are being made to improve awareness and encourage vaccinations, including working with local leaders to address vaccine hesitancy.
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