Nigeria has recorded 23 new suspected cases of diphtheria in the 10th epidemiological week of 2025, with Lagos State emerging as the most affected, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported.
According to the latest situation report, Lagos accounted for 20 cases, while Katsina State recorded three. The surge in infections in Lagos follows the outbreak at King’s College Lagos, where 14 students were infected and one fatality was recorded.
Following the outbreak, the Lagos State Government launched an emergency vaccination campaign targeting students and staff. Most of the infected students are receiving treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and are reportedly responding well to treatment.
The school principal, Mogaji Zakaria, said authorities had introduced hygiene protocols and mask mandates to contain the spread. However, some concerned parents have criticized the school’s sanitary conditions, calling for better infrastructure to prevent future outbreaks.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, reassured the public that the situation was under control, stating that 12 students were recovering well and expected to be discharged soon.
The NCDC’s report revealed that from May 2022 to March 2025, Nigeria recorded 1,319 diphtheria-related deaths, with Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Bauchi, and Borno states being the worst-hit.
Between Epi-Week 19, 2022, and Epi-Week 10, 2025, Nigeria recorded 42,642 suspected cases across 37 states and 350 local government areas (LGAs).
Kano led the outbreak with 24,239 cases, followed by Yobe (5,330), Katsina (4,237), Bauchi (3,066), and Borno (3,058).
These states, alongside Kaduna and Jigawa, accounted for 96.3% of all cases.
A total of 25,812 cases (60.5%) were confirmed, including 396 laboratory-confirmed cases, 216 epidemiologically linked cases, and 25,200 clinically compatible cases.
The disease remains particularly dangerous for children, with those aged 1–14 years making up 62.9% (16,234) of confirmed cases. However, only 19.3% of them (4,981) were fully vaccinated against diphtheria.
The case fatality rate (CFR) currently stands at 5.1%, with diphtheria continuing to pose a major public health challenge in the country.
Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It spreads through respiratory droplets, direct contact, or contaminated objects.
Symptoms include sore throat, difficulty swallowing, fever, and swollen neck glands, while severe cases may develop a thick gray membrane over the throat and tonsils, leading to airway obstruction.
If left untreated, diphtheria can result in life-threatening complications such as myocarditis, nerve damage, kidney failure, or respiratory distress. Diagnosis involves clinical examination and laboratory testing of throat swabs.
With the increasing number of cases, health authorities are urging parents to ensure their children are fully vaccinated with a diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine.
The government also emphasizes hygiene measures and early detection as key to preventing further outbreaks.
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