Diphtheria Alert: Kaduna Warns as Cases Rise, Children Most at Risk
The Kaduna State Government has urged parents to ensure their children are fully vaccinated after recording a rise in diphtheria cases, warning that unvaccinated children face the highest risk of severe illness and death.
The Kaduna State Ministry of Health has issued an urgent public health advisory following a recent increase in diphtheria cases across parts of the state, with children accounting for the majority of reported infections.
In a statement released on Saturday, the ministry said it had intensified efforts to contain the outbreak and appealed to parents, caregivers, schools and community leaders to take immediate steps to protect vulnerable children.
Health authorities warned that children who are unvaccinated or have not completed their routine immunisation are at the greatest risk of developing severe complications, which can be fatal if left untreated.
The ministry urged residents to watch out for symptoms such as sore throat, fever, chills, difficulty swallowing, persistent cough, breathing difficulties, swelling of the neck—commonly referred to as “bull neck”—and the appearance of a thick grey or white membrane covering the throat or tonsils.
It stressed that early diagnosis and prompt treatment are critical to improving survival rates, advising parents and caregivers to take anyone showing symptoms to the nearest health facility without delay.
The ministry also warned against self-medication or relying solely on traditional remedies.
As part of measures to curb the outbreak, parents were urged to ensure their children receive all routine vaccinations, while those who missed scheduled immunisations were encouraged to visit the nearest Primary Health Care (PHC) centre for free catch-up vaccination services.
Residents were further advised to maintain good hand hygiene, observe proper cough etiquette and avoid close contact with individuals showing symptoms of the disease.
The ministry said it is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, development partners and health facilities to strengthen disease surveillance, provide treatment, expand immunisation and contain the outbreak.
While urging residents to remain calm, the ministry stressed that prompt reporting of suspected cases and full vaccination remain the most effective ways to prevent the spread of diphtheria.
“Together, we can stop diphtheria,” the ministry said.
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