The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said that 68 per cent of the confirmed cases of diphtheria — a vaccine-preventable disease — involved unvaccinated people, based on available data.
Principal Health Communication Officer in the Department of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the NCDC, Michael Okali, disclosed this to Channels Television on Saturday.
He also said that 28 per cent do not know their vaccination status, adding that most of the casualties were unvaccinated.
Okali, who is also the Head, Risk Communication, Community Engagement and Infodemic Management Pillar of the National Diphtheria Incident Management System, said everyone is at risk of infection.
He said that the undervaccinated face the risk of transmitting the infection.
Okali urged parents to get their children and wards who are eligible vaccinated.
According to him, vaccination is free and available at all primary healthcare centres.
He, however, said that early reporting can check the spread of the disease.
“That is why we advocated for full vaccination. For infancy, six, 10, and 14; then if you are not sure of it, there is a booster vaccine called the Td or the Tdap — it contains both the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines. This can be used to boost the immunity of the individual,” he added.
Okali said that eight states in the country account for 98 per cent of the confirmed cases of diphtheria, a vaccine-preventable disease.
According to him, the affected states are Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Bauchi, Plateau, Sokoto and Zamfara.
Okali said that the confirmed cases and fatalities recorded in Nigeria from August 24 to August 30, 2026 stood at 69 suspected cases, 48 confirmed cases, and four deaths.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection caused by a bacterium known as Corynebacterium, which produces a toxin that affects an infected person’s nose, throat, tonsils, and larynx, and also some major parts of the body.
It can lead to the appearance of a grey-whitish pseudomembrane at the back of the throat or nose, and it can affect the heart, nerves, and the kidneys.
The bacteria spread from person to person, usually through respiratory droplets, such as from coughing or sneezing.
People can also get infected from touching infected open sores or ulcers.
It may also be spread by contaminated clothing and objects.
Symptoms include mild fever, sore throat, swollen glands around the neck, and difficulty breathing.
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