Nigeria is grappling with a severe diphtheria outbreak, resulting in a significant public health crisis. The latest data reveals a concerning surge in confirmed cases and fatalities across the nation…NCDC
As of March 9, 2025, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reports a staggering 25,812 confirmed diphtheria cases out of 42,642 suspected cases. These cases have been reported across 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and 350 local government areas (LGAs), although confirmed cases are concentrated in 184 LGAs within 26 states.
Tragically, the outbreak has claimed the lives of 1,319 individuals. The NCDC data, spanning from week 19 of 2022 to week 10 of 2025, highlights the severity of the situation.
The northern states are disproportionately affected, with Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa accounting for 96.3% of suspected cases. Kano alone has recorded 24,239 suspected cases
Of the suspected cases, 60.5% were confirmed, with a breakdown of laboratory confirmations, epidemiologically linked cases, and clinically compatible cases. A significant portion of cases were discarded, pending classification, or of unknown status.
The distribution of confirmed cases reveals that Kano leads with 18,108 cases, followed by Yobe, Bauchi, Katsina, and Borno. Notably, 99.7% of confirmed cases are concentrated in these eight states, including Jigawa, Plateau, and Kaduna
Children aged one to 14 years are particularly vulnerable, representing 62.9% of confirmed cases. Alarmingly, only 19.3% of confirmed cases were fully vaccinated with a diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine. The case fatality rate (CFR) stands at 5.1%.
The geographical spread of fatalities mirrors the case distribution, with Kano recording the highest number of deaths (850), followed by Katsina, Yobe, Bauchi, and Borno. Deaths have also been reported in several other states and the FCT.
The NCDC has been providing technical and logistical support to affected states, focusing on case identification, reporting, and response. However, challenges persist, including low test positivity rates, reliance on clinical compatibility for confirmation, and shortages of reagents and consumables for laboratory testing.
In response, the NCDC plans to continue its support activities, including data harmonization, capacity building, and public engagement through social media and survivor interviews. The center is also focused on optimizing laboratory testing protocols and ensuring adequate supplies for testing sites.
