The Katsina State Government has expressed growing alarm over the worsening diphtheria outbreak, revealing that the case fatality rate has reached approximately 5.6 percent. Health officials attributed the rising mortality rate to patients arriving late at treatment facilities.
Dr. Shaima’u Abba, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Health Care Agency, shared these updates during an exclusive interview with Channels Television in Katsina on Wednesday.
She explained that despite scaled-up government interventions, many patients only present at health centers after severe complications have already set in, complicating treatment efforts and heightening the risk of death.
Dr. Abba stated that 32 patients are presently being treated across the state’s four isolation centers. The disease has now expanded to 30 of the state’s 34 Local Government Areas, up from the 29 LGAs previously recorded.
She emphasized that vaccination remains the safest, most effective, and most cost-friendly defense against diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable illnesses.
The health official urged parents and guardians to ensure children complete their routine immunizations and to seek immediate medical assistance if anyone shows symptoms such as fever, persistent cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or neck swelling.
Detailing response measures, Dr. Abba noted that the state government has enhanced surveillance, contact tracing, community awareness, case management, and the distribution of medical supplies to impacted locations.
She disclosed that three new isolation centers have been established across the state’s three senatorial zones to enhance treatment access, while prophylactic medication is being provided to close contacts of confirmed cases.
She added that over 150,000 individuals were immunized during a reactive vaccination drive carried out across 15 wards in five heavily impacted LGAs.
Furthermore, Katsina has secured additional diphtheria vaccine doses from the Federal Ministry of Health, with a new vaccination campaign scheduled to cover 167 wards in the 30 affected LGAs.
Dr. Abba also stated that essential medications and medical consumables have been procured, alongside intensified community outreach to help residents spot symptoms early and get prompt care.
Meanwhile, Dr. Olajide Aladesua, a Consultant Paediatrician and Assistant Head of the Isolation Centre at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, described diphtheria as a highly contagious bacterial infection spread through respiratory droplets when an infected individual coughs or sneezes.
He warned that untreated cases can cause life-threatening complications involving the heart, brain, and kidneys.
Dr. Aladesua listed typical symptoms as fever, cough, nasal discharge, severe sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and neck swelling, advising parents not to overlook these red flags.
He stressed that finishing the full childhood immunization schedule is the best protection against the disease, adding that unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, and malnourished children face the greatest risk of severe health outcomes.
Recent statistics show Katsina State has recorded around 1,000 suspected diphtheria cases since January 2026. This has driven the state to strengthen emergency measures alongside the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), UNICEF, and other international partners.
Health authorities have renewed their call for residents to get vaccinated and report suspected cases quickly, maintaining that early diagnosis and care are vital to saving lives and stopping further transmission.
