At least three children have died and six others have been infected in a suspected diphtheria outbreak in Zaria, Kaduna State.
The Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Board, Bello Jamoh, confirmed that the outbreak has lingered in the state for the past 10 months, beginning in October 2024. He said the Kaduna State Ministry of Health is leading the response, with support from partners and other relevant stakeholders.
Jamoh added that a team of medical experts would be deployed to intensify efforts to curb the spread and provide adequate medical care.
A resident of Kwarbai in Zaria, Bashir-Magaji Basharata, who lost his daughter to the outbreak, described the disease as spreading rapidly across the city. According to him, his daughter developed a swollen neck, along with difficulty breathing and speaking, before she was rushed to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Shika.
Despite receiving urgent medical attention, she died shortly after arrival. Basharata said three other children soon developed similar symptoms, including two from a neighbouring household and another from a nearby street.
He noted that four children showing signs of diphtheria were later admitted to the Kakaki Primary Health Care Clinic in the area, but only one had been discharged as of his last visit.
Basharata expressed deep concern over reports that diphtheria vaccines were unavailable across the state. He said a visiting medical team claimed the vaccines currently in use were sourced from neighbouring Niger Republic.
