UNICEF worries over diphtheria spread, urges urgent vaccination

Amid the most severe diphtheria outbreak in recent global history, the United Nations Children’s Fund in Nigeria is sounding the alarm about the urgent need for widespread vaccination.

The outbreak has so far resulted in 11,587 suspected cases, and 7,202 confirmed cases across 105 local government areas in 17 states and the Federal Capital Territory, mostly among children.

A total of 453 deaths have occurred in confirmed cases, giving a case fatality rate of 6.3 per cent.

UNICEF, in a statement on Wednesday, said it was providing urgent support to the Nigerian government in its efforts to combat the outbreak.

“Of these, four million doses have been dispatched to Kano, the epicentre of the outbreak. Another four million doses of vaccines are being procured and will be handed over to the government in the coming weeks,” the statement read in part.

It added that to respond effectively to the outbreak, UNICEF Nigeria said it needed to raise an additional $3.3m by the end of the year.

UNICEF representative, Dr Rownak Khan, noted that “the devastating impact of this diphtheria outbreak is a grim reminder of the importance of vaccination. Nigeria is home to a staggering 2.2 million children who haven’t received even a single dose of vaccine – the second largest in the world.

“We must collectively take urgent actions to drastically reduce this number. Every child deserves protection from preventable diseases. This is not negotiable.”