Nigeria has reported a total of 25,812 confirmed cases of diphtheria out of 42,642 suspected cases across 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and 350 local government areas.
The confirmed cases are spread across 184 LGAs in 26 states, with 1,319 recorded deaths as of March 9, 2025.
Data exclusively obtained from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reveals the disease situation report from week 19 of 2022 to week 10 of 2025, detailing the significant impact of diphtheria.
Key states like Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa account for a large portion of the suspected cases reported.
Among the suspected cases, 60.5% were confirmed, 18.2% were discarded, 8.4% are pending classification, and 12.8% were unknown.
Most of the confirmed cases affected children aged one to 14 years, with only 19.3% of them fully vaccinated with a diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine.
The distribution of confirmed cases highlights Kano as the most affected, followed by Yobe, Bauchi, Katsina, Borno, Plateau, Jigawa, Kaduna, and other states.
Deaths were recorded in various states, with Kano having the highest number, followed by Katsina, Yobe, Bauchi, and others.
Efforts to address the situation include technical support to states, data harmonization, and engagement through social media channels.
Challenges like low-test positivity rates and inadequate resources for testing are being addressed, with a focus on enhancing laboratory diagnosis and supporting testing sites.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control remains committed to managing cases, collaborating with states, and implementing strategies to combat diphtheria effectively.