Suggestions




Nigeria Records 216 Confirmed Diphtheria Cases – NCDC

February 15, 2023
by
NCDC

Nigeria has recorded 216 diphtheria cases and 40 deaths, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that affects the nose, throat and sometimes, the skin of an individual.

Join our WhatsApp Channel

It is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium species, mainly by toxin-producing Corynebacterium diphtheriae and rarely by toxin-producing strains of C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis.

While confirming the figures during a webinar entitled ‘Diphtheria Outbreak in Nigeria: A Case of Re-Emergence or Improved Surveillance”, the Lead of the Diphtheria/Pertussis Technical Working Group in the NCDC, Dr Bola Lawal said suspected cases in the country are now 523 from five states.

He disclosed some of the states affected including: Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Lagos, and Osun states.

Lawal also noted that NCDC is currently supporting the response activities in Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Osun, and Yobe, among other states

READ ALSO: Diphtheria – Things You Need To Know

The breakdown of cases according to Lawal showed that “Kano state recorded 396 suspected cases with 211 confirmed cases, Yobe state 78 suspected cases with two confirmed cases; Katsina has 34 suspected cases but no confirmed case yet; while Lagos has recorded 14 suspected cases and two confirmed cases; and Osun state one confirmed case.

He added that the country has a case fatality rate of 18.5 per cent, he said: “Of the 216 confirmed cases, 184 (85.2 per cent) were aged two to 14 years from both genders. Out of the 216 confirmed cases, 27 were fully vaccinated, 84 were unvaccinated and 20 were partly vaccinated.

According to the NCDC, Diphtheria manifests as laryngitis, pharyngitis or tonsillitis and is associated with the presence of an adherent membrane covering the tonsils, pharynx and/or nose. Beyond the respiratory symptoms, approximately a quarter of cases may develop heart problems.

Peter Okoye, PBA Journalism Mentee
+ posts

Peter Okoye, PBA Journalism Mentee

Related Posts

Naira Vs Dollar: What To Expect This Week (2nd - 6th June 2025) 
Previous Story

How Currency, FX Crises Harm Nigerians – Economist Tackles CBN On Food Price Claims

Next Story

2023 Presidential Election: Is This The Year Of The Young Voter?

Featured Stories

Related Posts

Latest from News

CPPE Highlights What Must Be Done To Sustain Disinflation In Nigeria

CPPE Welcomes CBN Rate Cut, Flags Potential Limitations

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has welcomed the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) decision to cut the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 50 basis points to 26.5 percent, describing it as a positive signal for growth. In a
Tinubu Approves

Tinubu Targets N40.7tn in Tax Revenue for 2026

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is aiming to collect N40.7 trillion in revenue for 2026, Executive Chairman of the National Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji, told the House of Representatives on Wednesday. The target covers taxes, petroleum earnings, mineral royalties, and other

Aston Martin to Cut 20% of Workforce Over Rising Losses

British luxury carmaker Aston Martin has announced plans to reduce its workforce by up to 20 percent, following widening annual losses linked to US tariffs and weak demand in China. The cuts will affect around 600 employees, out of the company’s 3,000-strong
Naira Vs Dollar: What To Expect This Week (2nd - 6th June 2025) 
Previous Story

How Currency, FX Crises Harm Nigerians – Economist Tackles CBN On Food Price Claims

Next Story

2023 Presidential Election: Is This The Year Of The Young Voter?

Don't Miss

Naira Vs Dollar: What To Expect This Week (2nd - 6th June 2025) 

Naira Falls In Official Window, Dollar Rate Declines In Black Market

The official market recorded another decline in the value of
Food Security: NISS Trains South-East Farmers On Climate-smart Agriculture

Food Security: NISS Trains South-East Farmers On Climate-smart Agriculture

The Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS), South-East Zone, has