Katsina State Government has intensified efforts to contain a fresh outbreak of diphtheria, with 67,670 eligible persons vaccinated within the first three days of a reactive immunisation campaign.
The government has also secured an additional 650,000 doses of diphtheria-containing vaccines to strengthen the emergency response and protect residents in communities considered to be at high risk.
The Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Shemau Abba Kabir, disclosed this on Sunday at a press briefing 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, with preliminary figures indicating that about five per cent of the suspected cases may have resulted in deaths.
“The state has recorded over 1,000 suspected cases of diphtheria between January and August this year, and preliminary indications suggest that about five per cent of the affected persons may have died,” Kabir said.
She explained that the figure was based on suspected cases and would require further verification.
According to her, diphtheria has spread to 29 of the state’s 34 local government areas, with Funtua, Kankia, Bakori, Katsina, Mashi and Daura recording the highest number of suspected cases.
“The disease has so far been identified in 29 out of the 34 local government areas of Katsina State, with some local governments recording significantly higher numbers of suspected cases,” she said.
Kabir said the concentration of cases in the affected areas had prompted the government to intensify disease surveillance and deploy targeted interventions to prevent further transmission.
She said reactive vaccination had commenced in 15 high-risk wards across Bakori, Charanchi, Funtua, Mashi and Kankia local government areas.
She explained that the exercise was targeted at communities considered particularly vulnerable to the spread of the disease, especially children.
“Our immediate priority is to interrupt transmission in the high-risk communities through reactive vaccination, intensified surveillance and prompt case management,” Kabir said.
The agency has also established three isolation centres 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.
“Government has provided essential drugs and medical consumables, as well as infection prevention and control materials, to strengthen the response in affected areas,” she said.
She added that case-management drugs were being pre-positioned in affected communities to ensure that health facilities could respond promptly whenever suspected cases were identified.
The Executive Secretary further disclosed that health workers were being trained on diphtheria surveillance and case management to improve early detection, reporting and treatment.
She said strengthening the capacity of frontline health workers was critical because early identification and appropriate management could significantly reduce complications and deaths associated with the disease.
“Case-management drugs are being pre-positioned in affected areas, while health workers are receiving training on diphtheria surveillance and the management of suspected cases,” Kabir said.
Diphtheria is a contagious bacterial infection that can cause severe breathing difficulties and other serious complications, particularly among children who are not adequately vaccinated.
Kabir therefore appealed to parents, caregivers and community leaders to ensure that children receive all recommended routine vaccines, describing immunisation as one of the most effective ways of preventing the disease.
“Vaccination remains one of the safest and most effective ways of preventing diphtheria, and parents and caregivers must ensure that their children receive all recommended vaccines,” she said.
She urged parents and caregivers to seek immediate medical attention if children develop symptoms associated with diphtheria, including sore throat, fever and difficulty in breathing.
“Parents and caregivers should immediately report to the nearest health facility if their children develop symptoms such as sore throat, fever or difficulty in breathing,” she said.
She 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 stressed that community cooperation would be essential to containing the spread of the disease, particularly in areas where the highest number of cases had been recorded.
A Tribune Correspondent in Katsina reports that the development comes as the state continues to strengthen disease surveillance and emergency response measures amid concerns over the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases across parts of Northern Nigeria.