The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has revealed that 68 per cent of confirmed diphtheria cases recorded in the country involved unvaccinated people.
The Principal Health Communication Officer at the NCDC, Michael Okali, disclosed this on Saturday, warning that everyone remains at risk of contracting the vaccine-preventable disease.
Okali, who heads the Risk Communication and Community Engagement Pillar of the National Diphtheria Incident Management System, said another 28 per cent of confirmed cases had unknown vaccination status.
He urged parents to ensure that eligible children receive their vaccines, stressing that vaccination is free and available at primary healthcare centres nationwide.
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According to him, eight states- Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Bauchi, Plateau, Sokoto and Zamfara- account for 98 per cent of confirmed diphtheria cases in Nigeria.
He disclosed that between August 24 and 30, 2026, the country recorded 69 suspected cases, 48 confirmed cases and four deaths.
Okali also advised Nigerians to report suspected cases early to prevent further transmission, noting that diphtheria spreads mainly through respiratory droplets from infected persons.
Symptoms include mild fever, sore throat, swollen neck glands, and difficulty breathing.
