Senegal diphtheria outbreak reaches 114 cases and 11 deaths

Senegal is facing a diphtheria outbreak, with the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene reporting 114 confirmed cases and 11 deaths as of September 20, 2026. The disease has spread across 31 health districts in 12 different regions.

Kédougou has recorded the highest number of cases with 33, followed by Louga with 16, Dakar with 15, Diourbel with 13, and Thiès with 12. Other affected regions include Matam, Kaolack, Tambacounda, Kolda, Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor, and Fatick.

In the Louga region specifically, Governor Ndèye Nguénar Mbodji confirmed 16 cases and one death. Local authorities are responding by strengthening vaccination, surveillance, and awareness measures. Health officials are urging the population to adhere to the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) schedules and to seek immediate medical attention if symptoms such as sore throat, fever, difficulty swallowing, or grayish membranes in the throat appear.