The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) says more than 32,000 diphtheria cases have been confirmed in the state since the outbreak began in December 2022, with over 1,800 deaths recorded.
The Director-General of KNCDC, Dr Muhammad Adamu Abbas, said more than 16,000 of the confirmed cases involved children who had never received any dose of the diphtheria vaccine, while over 9,000 were fully vaccinated.
He identified late presentation for treatment, misinformation and harmful traditional practices as major factors contributing to the spread of the disease and rising fatalities.
Abbas urged parents and caregivers to seek immediate medical attention when children develop symptoms suggestive of diphtheria, warning that the disease can deteriorate rapidly if treatment is delayed.
He also expressed concern over the practice of taking affected children to traditional practitioners or barbers to remove the membrane that forms in the throat, saying such interventions could cause further injury and serious complications.
The KNCDC boss said the state government had engaged traditional healers, barbers and community leaders to promote early referral of suspected cases to recognised health facilities.
He added that a rumour-tracking mechanism had been established to monitor misinformation from communities and social media platforms and identify claims that could fuel disease outbreaks or mislead the public.
