2023 Nigeria diphtheria outbreak: The worst in a decade
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) declared the 2023 diphtheria outbreak in the country the worst in a decade, with the previous outbreak occurring in 2011 in Nigeria. It was also the biggest public health concern of the year.
The outbreak began in Kano State in December 2022 and spread to neighboring states. Through December 24, 2023, a total of 22,293 suspected cases were reported from 36 states across 297 LGAs.
Of this total, 13,387 (60.1%) were confirmed cases. The confirmed cases were distributed across 158 LGAs in 21 states.
Kano (10,085), Bauchi (1,059), Yobe (1,009), Katsina (599), Borno (483) & Jigawa (45), Plateau (31) & Kaduna (28) accounted for 99.4% of confirmed cases reported.
The majority [9,048 (67.6%)] of the confirmed cases were among children aged 1 - 14 years.
The people at the greatest risk of contracting diphtheria are among children and people who have not received any, or only a single dose of the vaccine (a diphtheria toxoid containing vaccine).
Only 3,376 (25.2%) out of the 13,387 confirmed cases were fully vaccinated with a diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine.
A total of 598 deaths (CFR: 4.5%) were recorded among confirmed cases.
People at risk are communities residing in densely crowded places and unsanitary areas with poor environmental conditions. Also, healthcare professionals and hospital frontline workers who are working with or in close contact with people suffering from diphtheria are at risk of contracting the disease. There is also a risk of contracting diphtheria if a person comes physically into contact with someone with diphtheria.