Urgent Action Required: Diphtheria Crisis in Nigeria Claims 1,269 Lives
Diphtheria has claimed 1,269 lives across Nigeria since 2022, with 24,804 cases reported. A recent incident at King’s College, Lagos, highlighted the crisis, prompting calls for urgent government action. Major issues contributing to the outbreak include low vaccination rates, weak disease surveillance, and inadequate public awareness. Immediate measures are essential to combat the disease and protect public health.
Nigeria is currently facing a significant health crisis, as diphtheria has resulted in the deaths of 1,269 individuals across 18 states since 2022. As of January 26, 2025, there have been a total of 24,804 confirmed cases reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Unfortunately, the response from governmental authorities has been inadequate, revealing serious deficiencies in the nation’s public health infrastructure.
A recent tragedy at King’s College in Lagos highlighted the severity of this outbreak, where a 12-year-old student succumbed to diphtheria. After presenting symptoms on February 22, 2025, the boy was hospitalized at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) but later developed complications, resulting in myocarditis and his subsequent death on March 6, 2025. Furthermore, 34 individuals who had close contact with the patient were identified, with 14 subsequently developing symptoms necessitating hospital care.
This outbreak serves as an urgent reminder of the ongoing spread of diphtheria, drawing attention to deficiencies in both vaccination efforts and disease monitoring. Diphtheria is a bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae that primarily targets the throat and nose, leading to symptoms such as severe sore throat, fever, swollen neck, breathing difficulties, and thick patches in the throat. The transmission occurs through respiratory droplets or contaminated surfaces, which makes crowded environments, such as schools, high-risk settings.
Despite being a vaccine-preventable disease, Nigeria continues to report alarming mortality rates due to three main issues: poor vaccination coverage, which leaves many children unprotected; inadequate disease surveillance, resulting in slow outbreak detection; and a lack of public awareness, where many parents remain ignorant of diphtheria’s symptoms and the necessity of vaccination.
In response to the urgent nature of these challenges, it is critical for government authorities to take decisive actions to prevent further fatalities. This should include launching aggressive vaccination campaigns nationwide, enhancing surveillance capabilities for early outbreak detection, and increasing public health education in schools and community platforms to inform citizens about diphtheria symptoms and prevention.
The ongoing diphtheria crisis in Nigeria underscores the urgent need for effective intervention measures. With numerous avoidable deaths reported, it is imperative that government authorities prioritize vaccination efforts, disease surveillance, and public health awareness. The situation is critical; immediate and decisive action is essential to prevent further loss of life and ensure that diphtheria does not continue to pose a significant threat to public health in the country.
Original Source: allafrica.com
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