The Katsina State Government has intensified its efforts to contain a fresh outbreak of diphtheria, vaccinating 67,670 eligible people in the first three days of a reactive immunization campaign.
The government has also secured an additional 650,000 doses of diphtheria vaccines to strengthen the emergency response and protect residents of communities considered high risk.
This was revealed on Sunday by the Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Shemau Abba Kabir, at a press conference on the diphtheria situation in the state.
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Kabir said the state had recorded more than 1,000 suspected cases of diphtheria between January and August 2026, and preliminary figures indicate that around five per cent of suspected cases may have resulted in deaths.
“The state has recorded more than 1,000 suspected cases of diphtheria between January and August this year, and preliminary indications suggest that around five per cent of the affected people may have died,” Kabir said.
He explained that the figure was based on suspected cases and would require further verification.
According to her, diphtheria has spread to 29 of the 34 local government areas of the state, with Funtua, Kankia, Bakori, Katsina, Mashi and Daura recording the highest number of suspected cases.
“So far, the disease has been identified in 29 of the 34 local government areas of Katsina State, with some local governments recording a significantly higher number of suspected cases,” he said.
Kabir said the concentration of cases in the affected areas had prompted the government to intensify surveillance of the disease and deploy targeted interventions to prevent further transmission.
He said reactive vaccination had started in 15 high-risk wards in Bakori, Charanchi, Funtua, Mashi and Kankia local government areas.
He explained that the exercise was aimed at communities considered particularly vulnerable to the spread of the disease, especially children.
“Our immediate priority is to interrupt transmission in high-risk communities through reactive vaccination, intensified surveillance and rapid case management,” Kabir said.
The agency has also established three isolation centers in Daura, Katsina and Funtua to improve the state’s capacity to manage suspected and confirmed cases and reduce the risk of further transmission.
Kabir said the government had provided essential medicines, medical consumables and infection prevention and control materials to support health workers responding to the outbreak.
“The government has provided essential medicines and medical supplies, as well as infection prevention and control materials, to strengthen the response in the affected areas,” he said.
He added that case management medications were being placed in affected communities to ensure health facilities could respond promptly when suspected cases were identified.
The Executive Secretary further revealed that health workers were being trained on diphtheria surveillance and case management to improve early detection, reporting and treatment.
He said strengthening the capacity of frontline health workers was critical because early identification and proper management could significantly reduce complications and deaths associated with the disease.
“Case management medications are being placed in the affected areas while health workers are being trained on diphtheria surveillance and management of suspected cases,” Kabir said.
Diphtheria is a contagious bacterial infection that can cause severe breathing difficulties and other serious complications, especially among children who are not properly vaccinated.
Kabir therefore appealed to parents, caregivers and community leaders to ensure that children receive all recommended routine vaccines, describing immunization as one of the most effective ways to prevent the disease.
“Vaccination remains one of the safest and most effective ways to prevent diphtheria, and parents and caregivers should ensure their children receive all recommended vaccines,” she said.
He urged parents and caregivers to seek immediate medical attention if children develop symptoms associated with diphtheria, such as sore throat, fever and difficulty breathing.
“Parents and caregivers should immediately report to the nearest health center if their children develop symptoms such as sore throat, fever or difficulty breathing,” he said.
He also called on community leaders to support health authorities by encouraging families to participate in the vaccination exercise and promptly report suspected cases.
The Executive Secretary highlighted that community cooperation would be essential to contain the spread of the disease, particularly in areas where the highest number of cases had been recorded.
A Tribune correspondent in Katsina reports that this development comes as the state continues to strengthen disease surveillance and emergency response measures amid concerns about the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases in parts of northern Nigeria..
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