511 diphtheria cases and 13 deaths recorded in Nigeria’s Yobe State
In Nigeria’s Yobe State, 511 cases of diphtheria were registered from the beginning of the year through September 8, and 13 people died. This was reported by Premium Times Nigeria, citing the state’s Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Muhammad Gana.
Outbreak affects 12 districts
According to the official, the case fatality rate among registered cases is 2.5%. He said this figure is lower than in most other Nigerian states where diphtheria outbreaks have been recorded.
The outbreak has affected 12 local government areas in Yobe State. Authorities plan to conduct vaccination in these areas, and preparations for the campaign, according to Gana, are at an advanced stage.
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Number of cases has decreased
The current figure is lower than the 1,100 cases registered in the state in September 2025. The highest number of cases in Yobe was recorded in 2023, at 3,080.
Muhammad Gana linked the decline in incidence to ongoing outbreak response measures. These include providing patients with free medicines, training healthcare workers in response strategies, intensive vaccination in hard-to-reach areas, community awareness efforts, contact tracing, sharing updates with stakeholders, coordination meetings, and resource mobilization.
The commissioner also noted support from the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the African Field Epidemiology Network in diphtheria vaccination, including in settlements of nomadic communities. Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that mainly affects the throat and upper respiratory tract and spreads through droplets released during coughing or sneezing.
