Diphtheria outbreak: NCDC raises alarm as Nigeria records over 7,000 cases, 309 deaths
…Confirms spread in 170 LGAs
Nigeria is battling a severe outbreak of diphtheria, a bacterial infection that has claimed the lives of 309 people and infected 7,784 others across 170 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 21 states.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed the outbreak, sounding the alarm on the highly contagious and potentially life-threatening disease.
The rapid spread of diphtheria has raised concerns among healthcare professionals, governments, and the general public, as the country struggles to contain the outbreak.
In recent weeks, the number of reported cases has surged tremendously and this has caused panic among Nigerians.
NCDC disclosed this on Wednesday at a press briefing in Abuja, warning of a severe bacterial infection that affects the nose, throat, and sometimes the skin.
The NCDC Director General, Dr. Jide Idris, stated that “diphtheria spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes; through close contacts with, or by touching contaminated objects.”
He emphasised that “symptoms usually begin two to five days after infection and can include fever, chills, sore throat, difficulty breathing, swollen glands in the neck, nasal discharge, fatigue which can lead to breathing difficulties.”
Dr. Idris stressed that “early recognition and prompt treatment are critical to managing this disease and preventing severe complications.”
The epidemiology report from week 22 in 2022 to week 35 in 2024 showed 36,151 suspected cases reported from 37 states and the FCT across 332 LGAs, with 21,938 confirmed cases from 26 states across 173 LGAs. The total confirmed death toll stands at 1,103, with a case fatality rate of 5.0 percent.
Dr. Idris highlighted the NCDC’s efforts in conducting regular National Emergency Operation Centre meetings, providing operational support, and collaborating with partners to develop surveillance and outbreak response guidelines.
“We conduct regular National Emergency Operation Centre meetings and provide operational support to the EOC and the pillars at the sub-national level,” he said.
“In collaboration with partners, notably, Breakthrough Action – Nigeria, we conducted the development of surveillance and outbreak response guidelines for diphtheria, deployment of DAT and I.V Erythromycin to states and facilities, the establishment of a diphtheria laboratory testing network across states, routine support to state labs with diphtheria testing reagents, and routine monitoring and proficiency testing across the diphtheria laboratory network,” he added.
Dr. Idris also mentioned that the NCDC is working with states to conduct active case search, contact tracing, and management, as well as providing training for healthcare workers involved in diphtheria treatment.
