Diphtheria: Nigeria at high risk with over 4,700 confirmed cases — WHO

Nigeria has recorded 4,717 confirmed cases of diphtheria, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The epidemiological report by the global health watchdog showed that between June 30 and August 31, 2023, Nigeria recorded an unusual increase in the number of confirmed diphtheria cases.

The report reads: “Of the cumulative 8,353 suspected cases reported since the outbreak was first reported in 2022, 4,717 (56.5 per cent) cases were confirmed (lab confirmed1 (169; 3.6 per cent), epidemiologically linked (117; 2.5 per cent) and clinical compatibility (4431; 93.9 per cent)). While 1,857 (22.2 per cent) were discarded as not compatible with diphtheria, 1048 (12.5 per cent) cases are pending classification, and 731 (8.8 per cent) cases had unknown diagnoses.

“Of the 4,717 confirmed cases, 3,466 (73.5 per cent) were aged 1 – 14 years, of these 699 were aged 0-4 years, 1,505 aged 5-9 years, 1,262 (aged 10 – 14 years. More than half of the cases (2,656; 56.3 per cent) were females. Only 1,074 (22.8 per cent) of the confirmed cases were fully vaccinated against diphtheria, 299 (6.3 per cent) were partially vaccinated. More than half of the cases (2,801; 59.4 per cent) were unvaccinated.

“Nigeria is currently facing a second wave of a diphtheria outbreak after a first wave of the outbreak was recorded between epidemiological week 52, 2022 (January 1, 2023) and week 20, 2023 (May 22, 2023). There is an increase in the affected population with a rise in the number of confirmed cases and related deaths reported in epidemiological weeks 31-33.

“There is an increased risk of transmission, with clusters and outbreaks reported in newly affected LGAs, with currently 27 LGAs reporting one clinically compatible case in the last three reporting weeks relative to 15 LGAs that had active cases in the preceding three weeks…”

Also, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, has constituted an emergency task force to curb diphtheria outbreak in the country.

Diphtheria cases have been detected in 14 states, with Kano being the epicentre.

The other states are: Lagos, Osun, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nasarawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Plateau, Zamfara, Jigawa, and Kano.

A statement by the Special Assistant to the Minister on Media and External Relations, Tashikalmah Hallah, said the task force will operate in an emergency mode in order to forestall further spread to other states and bring succour to the populace.

It will be co-chaired by the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, and the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa.

Other members of the task force are: the Director of Public Health in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Anyaike Chukwuma; representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the Federal Ministry of Information, and the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Healthcare Delivery (NTLC).

Prof. Pate said: “There should be massive mobilisation and sensitisation. This is where the NTLC is critical. Our people should be aware about the disease, the dangers inherent in it, and what they need to do. We must mount rapid response as our children are returning to school.”



FI