A Covid-Like Disease, Diphtheria, Is Ravaging Nigeria; 453 Deaths Reported So Far

At least 7,202 cases of Diphtheria have been reported in Nigeria in the last week alone, slowing reaching a healthcare emergency level.

Majority of the cases occurred in the three northern states of Kano, Katsina and Yobe.

The highly contagious bacterial disease mostly afflicts children 14 and below – according to statistics as children in this age bracket account for about 74% of reported cases.

The resurgence of diphtheria is a significant public health concern as the disease can lead to severe complications and death if left untreated. Diphtheria symptoms may include sore throat, fever, difficulty in breathing and swallowing. Untreated, the infection could spread to the heart and kidneys and cause life-threatening damage.

Luckily, Diphtheria is preventable by vaccination and so the situation calls for a vaccination campaign to prevent the situation from escalating into a major health emergency.

Save the Children International – a UK-based charity organization has stepped in and stepped up its campaign in the three states, sending health experts and supply chain staff to reach clinics and hospitals in the affected areas to help them detect and treat diphtheria cases, and support mass vaccination campaigns.

Nigeria’s health system faces challenges, including vaccine shortages and inadequate surveillance, which contribute to the fast spread of diseases.

To stop this disease from spreading further and avert more deaths, a coordinated and robust response by Nigeria’s government and health sector authorities to address the resurgence of diphtheria in Nigeria, including vaccination campaigns and strengthened healthcare infrastructure is urgently and critically needed.