LAGOS– Nigeria confirmed 111 cases of diphtheria with 22 deaths, in four states, between Dec 1, 2022, and the third week in Jan, 2023, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said.
The north-western state of Kano registered the highest share of the confirmed cases at 107, with 21 confirmed deaths, the public health agency said, in its latest diphtheria situation report yesterday.
The south-western state of Lagos reported one confirmed case with one death, the north-eastern state of Yobe, two confirmed cases and no death, and the south-western state of Osun, one confirmed case and no death, said the report.
The NCDC is working with state health authorities and other partners, to improve surveillance and response to the outbreak in the affected states, it said.
Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by the Corynebacterium species of bacteria. Its symptoms include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes and swelling of the neck. In severe cases, a grey or white patch develops in the throat, making it hard to breathe and swallow.
Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK