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Diphtheria outbreak response and vaccination efforts in Nig

Updated 10 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-03 10:22 UTC → 2026-10-05 09:02 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria continues to prompt large-scale public health interventions. In Zamfara State, where the situation previously saw 44 deaths and 367 suspected cases, authorities have announced that schools—including public, private, and Islamic or Qur’anic centers—are scheduled to resume on September 28, 2026. This follows a two-week delay intended to strengthen the outbreak response. While the Ministry of Health reported an improvement in the situation, schools have been instructed to maintain vigilance by monitoring for symptoms, designating health reporting focal persons, and cooperating with upcoming vaccination campaigns. In response to the ongoing threat, the Zamfara State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has launched a house-to-house campaign in the Gusau Local Government Area. This initiative focuses on active case searches, community education, and prompt medical referrals. Suspected cases are being directed to facilities such as the Infectious Diseases Centre (IDC) in Damba and Primary Health Care (PHC) Kwata, where patients receive free healthcare, including food and ongoing management. The program also aims to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities and strengthen infection prevention measures. In Kano State, the government has launched a targeted diphtheria immunization campaign coordinated by the Kano State Centre for Disease ~~Control. The exercise focuses~~ Control, focusing on five local government areas: Dala, Fagge, Gwale, Kumbotso, and Ungogo. ~~Officials are urging residents, especially those who have not been vaccinated in over 10 years, to participate.~~ In Sokoto State, concerns have been raised regarding a worsening outbreak. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate, has called for urgent government action following reports suggesting that more than 50 children may have died from suspected complications of the disease. While emphasizing that the death toll must be officially verified, Dan’iya noted that residents in communities such as Kwalkwalawa and Rikina have reported suspected deaths. He has urged the Sokoto State Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to intensify surveillance, contact tracing, and vaccination efforts, while calling for better-equipped isolation facilities. In Jigawa State, a separate vaccination program has been initiated in the Kaugama Local Government Area to address a pulmonary disease affecting livestock.

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